CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Residential Housing Units

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what steps the Commissioners are taking to ensure that their non-fair rent tenants are not adversely affected by the introduction of market rents by new owners of properties sold by the Commissioners.

Stuart Bell: Sales are, generally, of the freeholds only; existing tenancy arrangements are not changed. Future tenancy arrangements and rental policies are for new owners to determine.

Residential Housing Units

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will list the names and addresses of the estates on which the Commissioners have owned residential housing units over the past five years, excluding those used by the clergy for homes.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have owned residential housing units over the past five years, excluding those used by the clergy for homes, on their rural estates in the following areas:
	Alston, Lancashire
	Ashford, Kent
	Bishop Auckland, Durham
	Bishopstone, Wiltshire
	Canterbury, Kent
	Carlisle, Cumbria
	Central Durham, Durham
	Chelsea, London
	Chester, Cheshire
	Chichester, West Sussex
	Dissington, Northumberland
	East Lincs, Lincolnshire
	East Riding, Yorkshire
	Eccleshall, Staffordshire
	Ely, Cambridgeshire
	Exeter, Devon
	Foremarke, Derbyshire
	Great Easton, Leicestershire
	Halsall, Lancashire
	Hereford, Herefordshire
	Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
	Hyde Park, London
	Islip, Oxfordshire
	Kelmscott, Oxfordshire
	Kings Lynn, Norfolk
	Leicester, Leicestershire
	Maida Vale, London
	Navestock, Essex
	Newbiggin, Cumbria
	North Lincs, Lincolnshire
	North Riding, Yorkshire
	Northallerton, Yorkshire
	Norwich, Norfolk
	Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
	Pimlico, London
	Rainford, Lancashire
	Ripon, Yorkshire
	Rochester, Kent
	South Durham, Durham
	South Lincs, Lincolnshire
	Staverton, Devon
	Stoke Newington, London
	Tyneside, Tyne and Wear
	Vauxhall, London
	Walworth, London
	Warkworth, Northumberland
	Waterloo, London
	Wells, Somerset
	Winchester, Hampshire
	Winchester Park, London
	Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
	Wollaston, Northamptonshire
	Worcester, Worcestershire
	Wybunbury, Cheshire
	Yeovil, Somerset
	York, Yorkshire
	Many of these are farmed rural estates including smaller amounts of ancillary housing; the ownership of substantial blocks of largely residential accommodation has been and is focused in London.

Residential Housing Units

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will break down the residential housing units sold by the Commissioners since 2001 by number of bedrooms per unit.

Stuart Bell: This information cannot be provided without consulting a wide range of sources (as demonstrated by my answer to question 33410) thus involving a disproportionate amount of staff time.

Residential Housing Units

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what personal information on Church Commissioners' tenants is passed to the buyers of Church Commissioners' residential properties; and what measures are taken to ensure that the information is correct.

Stuart Bell: Hard copy and computer tenancy files containing customary business information are passed to new owners to enable them to continue to manage the properties sold. This information will often have been supplied by the residents themselves.
	The accuracy of these data is verified and controlled in the course of ongoing business management.

TREASURY

£5 Notes

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many £5 notes were in circulation in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of themerits of replacing the £5 note with a (a) plastic coated note and (b) £5 coin; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The following table provides information on the value of £5 notes in circulation as at end-February in each year over the last ten years and as published in the Bank of England's Annual Report and Accounts.
	
		Value of £5 notes in circulation
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 2005 1.055 
			 2004 1.025 
			 2003 1.051 
			 2002 1.044 
			 2001 1.041 
			 2000 1.045 
			 1999 1.111 
			 1998 1.034 
			 1997 1.047 
			 1996 1.067 
		
	
	The current £5 note in issue (featuring Elizabeth Fry) is printed on heavier weight paper than the previous £5note design and is also the first Bank of England note to be coated with a varnish. This was done to improve the durability of the £5 note, recognising that it is subject to more wear and tear than other denominations.
	The Bank of England is continually investigating ways to improve the quality and quantity of £5 notes in circulation. One option could be to introduce a £5 note printed on a more durable substrate, such as polymer (a type of plastic). A number of factors need to be considered in the selection of an alternative substrate, in particular that it provides acceptable protection against current and likely future counterfeiting threats. At present, the Bank has no plans to change the substrate.
	The Royal Mint, which is responsible for producing and issuing UK coins on behalf of HM Treasury, reviews from time to time the structure of the UK coinage. At present, there is little evidence of any significant public interest for introducing a new £5 circulating coin.

100 Parliament Street

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the disposal of antique fixtures and fittings in 100 Parliament street.

Dawn Primarolo: In accordance with standard Government procedures, a comprehensive asset register is maintained which includes any antique fixtures and fittings.
	Following the successful refurbishment of 100 Parliament street an audit has been undertaken to reconcile the asset register to the items that have been reinstated in the newly refurbished premises. Most of the antique fixtures and fittings have been reinstalled in the building. Some items on the asset register have been disposed of following discussions with English Heritage. Other low value loose items have been disposed of as these were inappropriate for the refurbished building. No items remain in store at 100 Parliament street.

Air Passenger Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to reduce air passenger duty.

Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor considers relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. Any changes are announced in the context of the Budget.

Alcohol-related Deaths

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire were primarily caused by alcohol in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths in (a)Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire were primarily caused by alcohol. (33808)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. The table below shows the numbers of deaths among residents of Tamworth local authority and the current county of Staffordshire where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 2000 to 2004.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(1) to usual residents of Tamworth local authority and the current county of Staffordshire(2), registered 2000–04 -- Number of deaths
		
			  Tamworth Staffordshire 
		
		
			 2000 5 80 
			 2001 4 87 
			 2002 9 104 
			 2003 6 106 
			 2004 9 111 
		
	
	(1)For the year 2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–04 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause.
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in: Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp5–14.
	(2)Data for the county of Staffordshire excludes figures for the unitary authority of Stoke-on-Trent.

Annual Death Rate (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Gravesham constituency between the ages of (a) 65 to 67, (b) 67 to 70, (c) 70 to 75, (d) 75 to 80 and (e) 80 or above died in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people in the Gravesham Parliamentary Constituency between the ages of (a) 65 to 67, (b)67 to 70, (c) 70 to 75, (d) 75 to 80 and (e) 80 or above died in each year since 1997. (33606)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. The table below shows the numbers of deaths by age, at ages 65 and over, of usual residents of Gravesham Parliamentary Constituency in the years 1997 to 2004.
	
		Deaths of usual residents of Gravesham Parliamentary Constituency by age at death, 1997 to 2004(3) -- Number of deaths
		
			 Age at death 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 65 to 66 23 32 39 23 27 17 30 25 
			 67 to 69 61 55 49 44 44 50 42 41 
			 70 to 74 113 115 114 117 92 113 111 87 
			 75 to 79 162 150 151 148 137 158 128 133 
			 80 plus 384 420 410 398 365 420 443 409 
		
	
	(3)Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Average Wage

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average wage in Beverley and Holderness was for (a) men and (b) women in the last period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the average wage in Beverley and Holderness was for (a) men (b) women in the last period for which figures are available. (33457)
	Currently average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the Average Gross Weekly Earnings for full time employees in the parliamentary constituency of Beverley and Holderness for 2005. These statistics are also available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		Gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs(4) by place of work -- £
		
			  Men Women 
			 Beverley and Holderness Median Mean Median Mean 
		
		
			 2004 403.7 473.6 (5)— 357.9 
			 2005 454.2 473.5 268.0 357.7 
		
	
	(4)Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
	(5)Data is suppressed on quality grounds.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.
	
		Gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs(6) by place of residence -- £
		
			  Men Women 
			 Beverley and Holderness Median Mean Median Mean 
		
		
			 2004 484.5 516.5 399.5 434.2 
		
	
	(6)Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.
	Background Note:
	(a) The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, (ASHE), carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees.
	(b) Average gross weekly earnings for adult full-time employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	(c) The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.

CDs and DVDs

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the level of UK VAT on the volume of (a) compact disks and (b) digital versatile disks sold online and delivered within the UK by UK-listed trading entities;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the level of UK VAT on the volume of (a) compact disks and (b) digital versatile disks smuggled into the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: No assessment has been made.

Centenarians

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many centenarians live in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many centenarians live in (a)Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales (33653)
	Figures on the number of people aged 100 or over on Census day (29 April 2001) in the requested geographical areas are available in table S001 on the CD supplement to the Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales pt 1, which is available in the House of Commons Library. Alternatively the data is available on-line at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/census2001.asp

Child Benefit

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost would be of raising the rate of child benefit for (a) the second and (b) the third child from £11.40 per week to £17.00 per week; and how many children would benefit in each case;
	(2)  what the cost would be of raising child benefit to £20 per week for all children.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of raising the rate of child benefit for the second and third child from £11.40 per week to £17.00 per week is shown in the following table, in addition to the number of children benefiting in each case.
	
		
			Position of child in family Annual difference in cost if child benefit increased to £17.00 per week (£ million) Number of children benefiting (million) 
		
		
			 Second 1,200 4.1 
			 Third 360 1.2 
			 Total for second and third child 1,560 5.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Based on a 5 per cent. sample of administrative data on child benefit recipients at 31 August 2005
	The annual cost of raising child benefit to £20.00 for all children is around £3.7 billion. This would benefit around 13.2 million children.

Code of Practice 26

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when a new version of Code of Practice 26 will become available;
	(2)  whether HM Customs and Revenue has completed its review of Code of Practice 26; and whether he plans to introduce a statutory test for the recovery of overpayments with a right of independent appeal.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer to my evidence to the Treasury Sub-Committee on 26 October in which I stated that HMRC will be discussing Code of Practice 26 with the voluntary sector and other interested parties with a view to introducing a new version by the end of this year.

Death Duties

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list assets accepted in lieu of death duties since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Acceptances up to 31 March 2005 are shown in the Acceptance in Lieu Reports published by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and available at http://www.mla.gov.uk/action/cp/00ail.asp. Details of acceptances since then are given in press releases issued by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council on 2 September (http://www.mla.gov.uk/news/press_article.asp?articleid=844) and 13 October (http://www.mla.gov.uk/news/press_article.asp?articleid=860); by the Scottish Executive on 13 July (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/07/13125910): and by the Welsh Executive on 31 October (http://www.wales.gov.uk/servlet/PressReleaseBySubject?area_code:140COB).

Enterprise Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the evidential basis is for his statement of 14 November in the Financial Times that half of all schools now offer enterprise education and that every school will do so by 2006.

John Healey: Responding to the 2002 Howard Davies report and following an evaluated pathfinder round in 2003–04 and 2004–05, new Department for Education and Skills funding of £60 million a year was rolled out in September 2005, which will support a new focus on enterprise education in every school" for all key stage 4 pupils. This includes the equivalent of five days' enterprise activity for every pupil (such as running a real, or realistic, business) alongside existing work-related activities like work experience.
	This new funding builds on funding for a third year of the Enterprise Advisors service. Adding the Pathfinder schools of 2003–04 and 2004–05, this means that less than two years since the Davies report, more than 50 per cent. of English secondary schools had Department for Education and Skills or Learning and Skills Council funded interventions on enterprise, preparing for national roll-out in September 2005.

Financial Statistics (South East England)

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the South East's percentage share of (a) UK public expenditure, (b) UK population and (c) UK gross domestic product was in each year between 1995 and 2005.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about public expenditure, population and gross domestic product for the South East compared to the total for the UK. (33714)
	The tables below show the South East Government Office Region per cent share of UK public expenditure, population, and Gross Value Added (GVA) 1 . Comparable data is shown for all available years from 1995.
	
		Table A: South East percentage of identifiable UK public expenditure(8)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998–99 11 
			 1999–2000 11 
			 2000/01 11 
			 2001–02 11 
			 2002–03 11 
			 2003–04 11 
		
	
	Estimates in Table A are based on Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA), and are available in table 8.1 on the HM Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_ publications/pespub_pesa05.cfm
	Identifiable expenditure (approximately 85% of Total Managed Expenditure) is that which can be recognised as having been incurred for the benefit of individuals, enterprises, or communities within particular regions.
	Non-identifiable expenditure is that which is deemed to be incurred on behalf of the UK as a whole, e.g. defence expenditure.
	
		Table B: South East percentage of UK population
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1995 13.4 
			 1996 13.4 
			 1997 13.5 
			 1998 13.5 
			 1999 13.6 
			 2000 13.6 
			 2001 13.6 
			 2002 13.6 
			 2003 13.6 
			 2004 13.6 
		
	
	Estimates in Table B are based on mid year population estimates, available on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/popest
	
		Table C: South East percentage of UK GVA(7)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1995 14.9 
			 1996 15.0 
			 1997 15.2 
			 1998 15.4 
			 1999 15.5 
			 2000 15.7 
			 2001 15.7 
			 2002 15.6 
			 2003(9) 15.6 
		
	
	The estimates in Table C are based on the regional Gross Value Added 1 (GVA) estimates published in December 2004. These are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=7359
	1 Gross Value Added (GVA) is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	2 Public Expenditure estimates are only available on a comparable basis from 1998–99. 3 Provisional.

Lord Turner Letter

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which official is leading the investigation into the leak of his letter to Lord Turner, Chairman of the Pensions Commission; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Chancellor has asked Nicholas Macpherson, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, to lead an inquiry into the leaking of the letter sent to Lord Turner and its reply.

Solar Photovoltaics Programme

Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK economy of a 10 year solar voltaics programme in line with that of Germany and Japan.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has supported photovoltaics since 2000 through the PV Field Trials Programme and also through the £31 million Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme. These programmes have contributed to the development of the microgeneration industry in the UK, including an installer base. We plan to continue support for photovoltaics and other building scale renewables through a low carbon buildings programme, which is currently under development. This was recommended in the Renewables Innovation Review (February 2004), which looked at the viability of photovoltaics and other renewable technologies. It suggested that the environmental benefits in buildings could be maximised by developing an appropriate mix of building integrated renewables and energy efficiency. The new programme will have a budget of £30 million over three years and will start in April 2006 subject to EU state aids clearance.
	The new programme and the wider microgeneration strategy currently under development will aim to introduce further measures to help develop a sustainable market for all the buildings renewable technologies. In addition PV installations are eligible for support under the renewables obligation. The current renewables obligation review is looking to simplify the way in which small-scale generators can claim renewable obligation certificates. International reports on photovoltaics, including developments in Japan and Germany, are undertaken by the International Energy Agency, www.iea.org.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statutory instruments introduced by his Department had to be (a) withdrawn, (b) amended by a further statutory instrument and (c) reprinted because of defective drafting in each session since 1997; and what steps he (i) is taking and (ii) plans to take to prevent further such instances.

John Healey: Information in relation to instruments which have been amended, replaced and reprinted is restricted to those instruments which have been reported on for defective drafting by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.
	Information on statutory instruments withdrawn or reprinted before publication is not held centrally and information in relation to any such instruments for which the Treasury were responsible can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	25 Treasury and HMRC (previously Customs and Inland Revenue) statutory instruments have been reported on by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments since 1997, although figures from Customs and Inland Revenue relate only to the period beginning 2000. 12 instruments were produced directly in response to a JCSI report and were issued free-of-charge to purchasers of the original instrument. Of the remaining 13 instruments, most were corrected by a later instrument, and others did not require amendment once an explanation had been provided.
	The Treasury have arrangements in place to prevent instances of defective drafting. Draft statutory instruments are checked by policy officials and at least one lawyer in addition to the draftsman before they are made. These arrangements are kept under review. In addition, training and guidance are provided for all lawyers who draft statutory instruments.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training is given to (a) policy officials and (b) lawyers in his Department responsible for draftingstatutory instruments; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: All Treasury statutory instruments are drafted by lawyers. Formal training courses, written guidance and on the job training are provided for all lawyers who draft statutory instruments. Draft statutory instruments are checked by at least one lawyer in addition to the draftsman before they are made. Policy officials do not draft Treasury statutory instruments. Training in turning policy into law is provided for policy officials as well as written guidance.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to address the recent criticism from the parliamentary ombudsman that the tax credit system is suffering from systemic maladministration"; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 31 October 2005
	Irefer to my letter to the ombudsman on 29 July, a copy of which can be found on the ombudsman's website. On 26 October, I gave an update to the Treasury Sub-Committee on the improvements that HMRC is making.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) on what dates in 2005 new instructions on tax credit (a) overpayments and (b) administration were given to HM Revenue and Customs; what the changes were in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the new streamlined procedures for the determination of tax credit overpayment disputes were introduced; what these procedures are; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 298W.
	Instructions were issued to TCO staff prior to the introduction of the procedures.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what happens to the (a) level of an award and (b) rate of recovery when a tax credit overpayment is disputed; what will happen when the interim IT solution is introduced to suspend an overpayment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether when a tax credit overpayment is suspended the award continues (a) at the same level it was before the overpayment was identified and (b) at a new rate; and if he will give an illustration.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie) on 26 October 2005, Official Report, columns 368–69W.
	From 5–6 November, HMRC has been suspending recovery of an overpayment where a claimant disputes that recovery.
	An example of the suspending recovery function is:
	A couple with one child, working 30 hours a week and earning an annual income of £15,000 informs HMRC of a change in income that will increase their income for the 2005–06 tax year to £19,500 (of which £2,500 is disregarded). The change in income happens after six months and the family reports the change immediately.
	Before the change the family would be entitled to an annual tax credit award of £2,495 or £47 per week. The change in income implies that new annual tax credit entitlement is £1,755 or £33 per week. So, for the first 26 weeks the family has been paid £370 more than they were entitled to. This amount will be deducted from tax credit payments for the remainder of the year, reducing weekly payments to £19.
	If in-year recovery was suspended, then the family would be paid their entitlement for the rest of the year. Given their new income, this would be £33 per week.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit award notices have been (a) issued, (b) printed and (c) delivered to tax credit claimants in each month since April 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: Award notices are issued at the following points in the tax credits cycle:
	an initial award notice, following a successful claim,
	an amended award notice, when a claimant notifies HMRC of a change of circumstances or income during the year,
	a finalised award notice, following the completion of the renewal process.
	Award notices issued each month since April 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			  Notices issued 
		
		
			 2003  
			 April 2,400,000 
			 May 3,000,000 
			 June 2,000,000 
			 July 2,000,000 
			 August 1,000,000 
			 September 1,500,000 
			 October 1,600,000 
			 November 1,100,000 
			 December 1,000,000 
			 2004  
			 January 1,300,000 
			 February 1,100,000 
			 March 2,100,000 
			 April 1,500,000 
			 May 4,100,000 
			 June 5,000,000 
			 July 4,000,000 
			 August 3,500,000 
			 September 3,500,000 
			 October 4,000,000 
			 November 2,000,000 
			 December 1,000,000 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 1,500,000 
			 February 1,500,000 
			 March 3,000,000 
			 April 3,300,000 
			 May 3,600,000 
			 June 4,500,000 
			 July 3,400,000 
			 August 3,700,000 
			 September 4,300,000 
			 October 3,400,000

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer questions 23572, 19290, 19286, 19288 and 19299 on tax credits from the hon. Member for Yeovil.

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Tax Credits

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise the rules governing the assessment of self-employed income for evaluating eligibility for tax credits to take into account actual income in the preceding year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 2 December 2005
	No. The income assessment for the child and working tax credits is already based on income of the previous tax year which is chargeable to income tax. This includes any taxable profits from self-employment. Tax credit awards are finalised after the end of the year of award on the basis of that year's income.

Tax Relief

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of all tax relief was received by persons in the top tax bracket in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the proportion of all tax reliefs received by higher rate taxpayers is not available.

Treasury Silver

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated value is of the Treasury silver; and what additions have been made to that silver since May 1997.

John Healey: The value of the Treasury silver is £1,320,650. This was valued by Bonhams auctioneers at 31 March 2005 and is reported in HM Treasury's Resource Accounts 2004–05. No additions have been made to this silver since May 1997. The silver items are either stored at the Bank of England for safekeeping, or on display at 10 Downing street and the Cabinet Office.

Unemployment (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the registered unemployed in Tamworth constituency were (a) 25 years and under, (b) 26 to 35 years, (c) 36 to 45 years, (d) 46 to 55 years and (e) over 55 years of age on the latest dates for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (33809)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for small areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 shows the percentage of unemployed, by specified age groups, who were resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2 shows the percentage of JSA claimants, by age bands, resident in the Tamworth constituency for October 2005.
	
		Table 1: Percentage of unemployed by age bands resident in the Tamworth constituency: 12 months ending March 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 56.4 
			 26 to 35 (7)— 
			 36 to 45 (7)— 
			 46 to 55 22.8 
			 Over 55 (7)— 
			 Total unemployed 1,500 
		
	
	(7)Estimate not available, sample size less than three could be disclosive.
	Source:
	Annual Population Survey
	
		Table 2: Percentage of claimants of jobseekers' allowance by age bands resident in the Tamworth constituency: October 2005
		
			 Age band Percentage 
		
		
			 25 and under 35.6 
			 26 to 35 21.5 
			 36 to 45 18.1 
			 46 to 55 15.1 
			 Over 55 9.7 
			 Total JSA claimants 1,085 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Work Force Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total estimated work force was in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment. (33654)
	The attached table shows, for the last 10 years, the estimated numbers of persons aged 16 and over in employment who were resident in Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex (excluding Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock unitary authorities), Hertfordshire, Greater London and England and Wales. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Number of people aged 16 and over in employment by area of residence -- Thousand
		
			 12 months ending Southend-on-Sea UA Essex(8) Hertfordshire London England and Wales 
		
		
			 February  
			 1996 64 578 501 3,008 22,826 
			 1997 67 596 509 3,052 23,102 
			 1998 74 614 501 3,133 23,406 
			 1999 73 612 520 3,200 23,696 
			 2000 76 618 513 3,291 23,938 
			 2001 71 640 535 3,296 24,158 
			 2002 72 650 530 3,380 24,394 
			 2003 73 631 533 3,383 24,491 
			 2004 77 649 539 3,397 24,696 
			   
			 March  
			 2005 79 654 537 3,424 24,894 
		
	
	(8)Note that Essex excludes Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock unitary authorities.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Levy Board

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed, by full-time equivalents, by each agricultural levy board.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of people employed, by full-time equivalent, for the five statutory agriculture and horticultural levy boards are: 51 in the British Potato Council; 61 in the Home-Grown Cereals Authority; 15 in the Horticultural Development Council; 47 in the Milk Development Council; and 565 (of which 115 are funded by the statutory levy) in the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Animal Exhibitions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1830W, on animal exhibitions, how many applications were (a) applied for, (b) granted and (c) refused in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Exemptions from the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended), and hence from Directive 1999/22/EC, may be granted under section 14(1)(a) of the 1981 Act. Figures on applications to the Department for such exemptions are provided below for the most recent 12 month period for which they are available (1 November 2004 to 31 October 2005).
	In answer to point (a), nine applications for exemptions under section 14(1)(a) of the 1981 Act have been determined. A further eight such applications have been received and are in the process of being determined.
	In answer to point (b), five exemptions were granted.
	In answer to point (c), four applications for exemptions were refused. Of these, the Department has recommended that three are suitable for a section 14(2) dispensation and one is suitable for a section 14(1)(b) dispensation. These dispensation provisions retain the requirement for the establishment concerned to be licensed under the 1981 Act but provide for reduced regulatory requirements.

Animal Welfare Bill

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will redefine (a) decapod crustaceans and (b) cephalopods as animals to be included in the provisions of the Animal Welfare Bill.

Ben Bradshaw: The definition of an animal for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Bill is limited to non-human vertebrates. This restriction to vertebrates is made on the basis that there is currently insufficient evidence to show conclusively that other types of animals, such as lobsters/crabs/squids", have the capacity for conscious awareness; a prerequisite for experiencing pain and suffering. However, there are powers within the Bill to extend the definition if future scientific evidence demonstrated that such animals can in fact experience pain and suffering.

Animal Welfare Bill

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the Animal Welfare Bill on the licensing of pet fairs and markets.

Ben Bradshaw: Our assessment on the effect of our proposal to license pet fairs is detailed in the regulatory impact assessment (RIA), which was published alongside the Animal Welfare Bill. The RIA was informed by a public consultation on our animal welfare legislation and meetings with a wide range of organisations with an interest in animal welfare. We have also recently been in contact with interested parties, both for and against the licensing of pet fairs, in order to assist in the preparation of our proposals on these events. Once the Bill has been enacted, we plan to draw up regulations on pet vending, including pet fairs, and these proposed regulations will be subject to full public consultation.

Avian Influenza

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of bio-security on poultry farms in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government consider that poultry farmers, in common with all animal owners, have a responsibility to maintain good biosecurity practices.
	There has been no assessment of current bio-security on poultry farms. However, the Government are working with the poultry industry to ensure that biosecurity practices are consistent and to the required standard. Defra has distributed guidance materials on avian influenza to a range of industry groups—including the British Poultry Council, the British Egg Industry Council and the National Farmers Union—who are helping to distribute this material to their members, who cover the majority of birds. A simple one- page leaflet on biosecurity and surveillance for smaller concerns and back yard keepers has also been produced and is being distributed widely including to all veterinary practices and placed in trade and specialist press targeting the same audience. All this information is available on my Department's website.

Avian Influenza

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total capacity is of existing bird quarantine facilities in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: Licences for quarantine premises do not specify the maximum capacity of the centre or facility. This is due to the fact that the capacity of a quarantine premises will vary depending on the type and size of the birds and the behavioural characteristics of different species. Certain species enjoy 'clumping' in dense groups, whereas other species are uncomfortable in close proximity to each other. Judgments about the welfare of the birds in quarantine will be a matter for clinical and professional veterinary judgment.

Avian Influenza

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of using ring-vaccination of poultry to combat an outbreak of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Our experience has been that with early reporting of suspect disease, swift action to humanely slaughter infected flocks/movement controls and good biosecurity on the part of keepers, the disease can be quickly contained and eliminated without recourse to vaccination.
	However Defra will continue to explore the situation regarding vaccination. Should there be advances in vaccination technology—particularly improving its effectiveness—then this would of course need to be taken into account.

Avian Influenza

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement of 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 312, on avian influenza, whether smuggling birds to avoid quarantine requirements comes within her definition of offences related to the keeping of birds.

Ben Bradshaw: The import of captive birds into the EU from third countries must comply with the rules set out in Commission Decision 2000/666/EC. Smuggling of captive birds is an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981 and the Importation of Birds, Poultry and Hatching Eggs Order 1979.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the clade type was of the H5N1 isolate recovered from (a) the parrot/mesia pooled sample and (b) the mesia-only sample in Essex; and whether each clade type was within the same sub-grouping associated with the disease in humans.

Ben Bradshaw: The H5N1 isolates from the pooled parrot/mesia sample and from the mesia only samples may be classified as clade 2 by some authorities. While the Department uses advance molecular techniques to determine the linage and, by inference, the origin of avian influenza viruses, the classification by clade is unhelpful when considering the potential these viruses may have for human infection. On a precautionary principle any isolate of highly pathogenic Avian influenza should be considered as having a potential to infect man and appropriate precautions should be taken in every case.

Avian Influenza

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether eggs would be destroyed as part of the measures to deal with an outbreak of Avian influenza; and what assessment has been made of the likely impact on (a) pharmaceutical and (b) other industries of reduced availability of eggs as a result of Avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Eggs will usually only be destroyed on infected premises and premises with a link to infected premises which are therefore considered to have disease.
	Egg movements in areas subject to movement restrictions should continue to move under licence and subject to biosecurity controls. We do not therefore envisage a significant impact on industries using eggs or the supply of table eggs as a result of an outbreak of Avian influenza.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from what countries mesia species are imported into the UK; and what measures her Department has taken to ascertain the source of the mesias sampled at the quarantine facility in Essex, in whose samples the Avian influenza virus H5N1 was isolated.

Ben Bradshaw: The EU-wide computer system used to record imports of animals and their products, known as TRACES, gives all captive birds the same code and therefore it is not possible to specifically identify consignments of mesia species.
	The mesias were documented as originating from a Taiwanese farm on which mesias are bred in captivity.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) significance, and (b) implications of the inconsistency in recorded numbers of the mesia birds batch in which avian influenza was identified, for the effectiveness of the import and quarantine system.

Ben Bradshaw: Where there are relatively large consignments of small birds it can be difficult to count the numbers exactly. This means that sometimes small inconsistencies occur. An independent review has been set up to look at avian influenza quarantine procedures and a report on their effectiveness is expected in early December.

Avian Influenza

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's contingency plan in case of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have in place an Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan, which includes a section dealing specifically with an outbreak of avian influenza. A copy of the contingency plan can be found on the DEFRA website.
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza-contplan.htm

Avian Influenza

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 7W, on avian influenza, what funding is available from her Department in the event of an avian influenza outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is planning to spend over £8 million to enhance preparedness for avian flu in the current financial year. However in the event of an outbreak, the Department will need to assess the financial impact and if deemed necessary, will put forward proposals to the Treasury to consider additional funding from the contingency reserve.

Beef

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact on beef products in England of the import of South American beef products.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 November 2005
	Imports of beef and beef products from South America into the UK for 2003—August 2005 are shown in the following table. Imports into England are not separately available. The final row in the table shows that these represented 29 per cent. (by value) of total beef and beef product imports into the UK for the period January to August 2005.
	
		
			   2003 2004 January to August 2005 
			 Type Countries £000 Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000 Tonnes 
		
		
			 Prepared or preserved Brazil 57,616 53,541 72,984 58,677 57,097 42,703 
			  Argentina 7,139 5,881 11,259 8,931 7,926 5,986 
			  Uruguay 4,264 4,379 4,604 4,233 4,526 3,606 
			 
			 Frozen Brazil 21,272 19,555 26,836 21,088 19,996 15,265 
			  Argentina 4,019 3,907 3,559 2,700 3,172 2,154 
			  Uruguay 3,051 2,278 2,098 1,099 1,575 796 
			  Paraguay 78 112 12 11 — — 
			  Chile — — 50 11 — — 
			 
			 Fresh or chilled Brazil 31,629 12,568 34,293 13,854 29,357 11,895 
			  Argentina 17,905 5,592 20,793 6,110 18,765 5,271 
			  Uruguay 13,411 4,001 15,994 4,472 14,228 4,224 
			  Chile 113 33 363 135 2,085 702 
			  Paraguay 23 11 — — — — 
			 
			 Salted, in brine, dried or smoked Brazil — — — — — — 
			 South America total  160,519 111,858 192,846 121,321 158,727 92,601 
			 Percentage of total UK imports  22 27 24 28 29 33 
		
	
	Note:
	2005 data is subject to amendments.
	Sources:
	H M Revenue and Customs.
	Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, DEFRA

Beef

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she expects for ending the US ban on British beef; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Once the EU embargo is lifted for beef from UK cattle born after July 1996 we will look to trading partners outside the EU to remove their restrictions on our beef exports in line with international OIE guidelines. Officials are in contact with their opposite numbers in the US to explore the best way to proceed on this issue.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been ordered to be slaughtered to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis in each month in 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of infected cattle slaughtered in Great Britain for the first nine months of 2005 is given in the following table:
	
		2005
		
			 Month(9) Number of cattle slaughtered in GB(10) 
		
		
			 January 2,669 
			 February 3077 
			 March 3,396 
			 April 2,753 
			 May 2,057 
			 June 2,415 
			 July 1,865 
			 August 2,210 
			 September 2,106 
			 Total 22,548 
		
	
	(9)Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service Data Warehouse on 24 October 2005. Subject to change as more data becomes available.
	(10)Bovine tuberculosis reactors plus direct contacts.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints the Department has received about the conduct of its officials with regard to bovine tuberculosis in each month since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not correlated in the format requested, and can be derived only at disproportionate cost.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tests for bovine tuberculosis her Department undertook in each month since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of tests for bovine tuberculosis undertaken since 2001 broken down by month are given in the following five tables.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Month (2001)(11) Total herd tests(11) 
		
		
			 January 4,209 
			 February 3,392 
			 March 233 
			 April 233 
			 May 245 
			 June 185 
			 July 302 
			 August 232 
			 September 303 
			 October 415 
			 November 680 
			 December 973 
			 Total 11,402 
		
	
	
		Table 2
		
			 Month (2002)(11) Total herd tests(12) 
		
		
			 January 3,072 
			 February 4,601 
			 March 4,698 
			 April 5,745 
			 May 3,664 
			 June 2,067 
			 July 2,681 
			 August 1,750 
			 September 2,418 
			 October 3,521 
			 November 5,363 
			 December 4,551 
			 Total 44,131 
		
	
	
		Table 3
		
			 Month (2003) Total herd tests(12) 
		
		
			 January 6,093 
			 February 5,555 
			 March 5,699 
			 April 4,515 
			 May 3,007 
			 June 2,769 
			 July 2,553 
			 August 1,800 
			 September 2,914 
			 October 2,872 
			 November 3,762 
			 December 3,581 
			 Total 45,120 
		
	
	
		Table 4
		
			 Month (2004) Total herd tests(11) 
		
		
			 January 5,232 
			 February 5,226 
			 March 5,821 
			 April 4,218 
			 May 3,299 
			 June 2,905 
			 July 2,196 
			 August 2,156 
			 September 2,242 
			 October 2,961 
			 November 5,309 
			 December 3,222 
			 Total 44,787 
		
	
	
		Table 5
		
			 Month (2005) Total herd tests(11) 
		
		
			 January 5,336 
			 February 5,510 
			 March 4,541 
			 April 4,175 
			 May 3,083 
			 June 2,272 
			 July 2,026 
			 August 2,118 
			 September 2,483 
			 Total 31,544 
			   
			 2001–05 total 176,984 
		
	
	(11)In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable with other years.
	(12)Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service Data Warehouse on 1 December 2005. Subject to change as more data become available.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest estimate is of the number of animals infected by bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: Our latest assessment shows that bovine TB restrictions, applied as result of a TB incident, affected approximately 5.2 per cent. of cattle herds in Great Britain between January and September 2005, compared with approximately 4.7 per cent. for the same period in 2004.
	In Great Britain there were 2,721 new TB incidents in the first nine months of 2005—an increase of 222 on 2004. The long-term trend has been an 18 per cent. annual increase in new herd incidents.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is planning to introduce to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government expect to make an announcement shortly detailing future plans for dealing with bovine TB.

Carbon Dioxide Emisions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on carbon dioxide levels of the removal of existing nuclear power stations as each is closed down.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Essex on 10 October, Official Report, column 23W and our published projections at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep2004.pdf and http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf.
	The published projections of nuclear generation reflect company views at the time and do not allow for additional life extension potential. Updated energy projections will be made available in due course.

Cetacean By-catch

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1053W, when the findings of the European Commission Observer Programme are expected to be published; and whether they will be published on a regular basis.

Ben Bradshaw: We will be supplying the required information by 1 June 2006. As the Commission want to address the issue as a matter of urgency, I anticipate that a report will be available soon after.
	Council Regulation (EC) 812/2004 provides for the Commission to make a report to the Council and the European Parliament after the second and fourth annual reports.

Christmas Card Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas trees that were recycled in each year since 1990; what support she provides to local authorities with regard to the recycling of Christmas cards; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Christmas card and tree recycling schemes are run by the Woodland Trust and local authorities respectively. As such DEFRA has no record of the amounts collected and recycled. However, in 2005 over 50 million cards were collected through the Woodland Trust scheme.
	Support for local authorities who wish to run an awareness campaign at Christmas, including the recycling of Christmas cards, can be provided by WRAP'S 'Recycle Now' programme. The support includes the use of artwork, advertising templates and PR materials.

Civil Nuclear Facilities

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the possible impact of climate change upon civil nuclear facilities in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: Safety at nuclear facilities is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NIL). By virtue of the conditions attached to licences granted by the HSE, nuclear site licensees are required to maintain up-to-date safety cases for their sites, which take into account any changes to assumptions made about external hazards, such as the frequency, duration and severity of flooding, extreme temperatures, high winds and other climate change impacts.
	As sites move into decommissioning and periods of care and maintenance which may extend over several decades, HSE will expect licensees to continue to consider the possible impacts of climate change and to identify any actions which they might need to take toensure the continued safety of their sites.

Civil Nuclear Facilities

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the possible impact of climate change on the nuclear facilities at (a) Chapelcross, (b) Hartlepool, (c) Heysham and (d) Torness.

Malcolm Wicks: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NIL) regulates the safety of all nuclear power stations in the UK, including those at Chapelcross, Hartlepool, Heysham and Torness. The NIL requires the operators of these facilities to have an up to date written demonstration of safety, the safety case, for each facility, which takes into consideration external hazards such as climate change impacts. The NIL assesses the adequacy of operators' safety cases against its published Safety Assessment Principles (SAPs), which require that the risks posed to the safety of the nuclear plant by reasonably foreseeable external events, remain demonstrably low.

Cockle Fishing

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will implement a secure permit system for cockle fishing requiring (a) the observation of health and safety regulations, (b) that the coastguard be informed of any cockling activity, (c) a responsible person to be on shore at all times and to be informed of all active participants at any time, (d) the enforcement of risk assessment procedures and (e) a proper check of all vehicles and equipment.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 1 December 2005
	The 12 Sea Fisheries Committees in England and Wales have powers under the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1996 to introduce byelaws to meet local fisheries management requirements (for example, to regulate cockle fishing by permit requirement). Other authorities have primary responsibility for such matters as health and safety regulation and the safety of vehicles, and relevant legal requirements and enforcement arrangements are in place. I will be considering whether additional provision for effective inshore fisheries management needs to be made in the Government's planned Marine Bill.

Crematoria

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will provide the Crematorium Authority Mercury Abatement Organisation with powers enabling it to co-ordinate implementation measures with regards to the installation of mercury-abatement equipment and emissions burden-sharing in crematoria.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made provision for the mercury reductions required from crematoria to be delivered through burden sharing, in response to concerns raised by some cremation organisations over alternative approaches, and have been pleased to assist the cremation sector to the extent possible in their development of suitable arrangements. This is a novel approach and is an alternative to the conventional method of identifying installations above a given size to take pollution control measures.
	It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in order to dictate that one particular burden sharing approach—such as that of the Crematorium Authority Mercury Abatement Organisation—be taken up by all crematoria. I have, however, extended the deadline until 1 June 2006 by when we wish to see evidence that the burden sharing approach will deliver the 50 per cent. reduction we have specified.

Endemic Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list in descending order the number of endemic species of (a) insects and (b) plants in each of the world's islands, countries and territories.

Jim Knight: It is not in the public interest for the Secretary of State to hold such a list. However, information on endemic species is available from the following sources:
	Groombridge, B & Jenkins, M. 2002. World atlas of biodiversity. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London
	Groombridge B (Ed) 1992. Global biodiversity—status of the earth's living resources. Chapman and Hall, London, Tokyo
	UNEP—World Conservation Monitoring Centre Species Database at http://www.unep-wcmc.org.
	You may also be interested to know about the UK's ongoing support for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an organisation committed to efforts to make biodiversity information available to the public via the internet (www.gbif.org).

Farming

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of animal feeds was to farmers in England in the 2004–05 financial year.

Ben Bradshaw: Data are not available for the 2004–05 financial year. However the cost of animal feed to farmers in England for the 2004 calendar year was £1.649 billion. This includes compound feed, straight concentrates and non-concentrates and also feed purchased from other farms.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by (a) community support officers and (b) police officers for dog fouling under paragraph 1(2)(c) of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002 in each of the last four years, broken down by police authority.

Ben Bradshaw: The figures for fixed penalty notices we collect annually makes no distinction between those fixed penalties issued by local authority officers and police community support officers.

Foot and Mouth (Brazil)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to house imports of meat from Brazil following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease there.

Ben Bradshaw: Following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Brazil, action was taken to ban imports of meat from the affected areas which may present a risk.
	All meat imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.
	Any consignment that does not meet EU requirements, including that which may have been affected by the ban would be rejected and re-exported or destroyed.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i)integrating the proposed identity card scheme into her Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within her Department.

Jim Knight: The Department has not finalised current best estimates of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Landfill

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 16W, on landfill, what percentage of glass and plastic bottles were recycled in the last period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Results for 2004 from the trade organisations of British Glass and British Plastics Federation estimate 35 per cent. of glass and 8 per cent. of plastic bottles are recycled.

Live Animal Imports

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which live animals exported from Brazil are subsequently imported as meat products into the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 November 2005
	The trade in individual animals can not be traced through overseas trade statistics.
	The following table shows the total exports of live animals from Brazil split by country for 2004.
	
		
			  Value (1000$) Weight (Tonnes) 
		
		
			 Bovine 7,339 6,941 
			 Lebanon 3,855 5,029 
			 Venezuela 3,011 1,381 
			 Paraguay 237 432 
			 Benin 172 40 
			 Senegal 25 13 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 25 5 
			 Bolivia 14 40 
			
			 Swine 178 38 
			 Argentina 121 22 
			 Paraguay 57 16 
			
			 Poultry 8,997 357 
			 Peru 2,483 14 
			 Paraguay 1,862 297 
			 Argentina 1,611 9 
			 Venezuela 983 5 
			 Bolivia 943 19 
			 Colombia 653 3 
			 Chile 294 3 
			 Spain 76 4 
			 Ecuador 71 1 
			 Senegal 14 2 
			 France 7 0 
			
			 Sheep 0 0 
		
	
	Information on the subsequent processing and destination of these live animal exports from Brazil is not readily available. However the following table gives details of the total imports of meat and meat products into the UK in 2004 from those countries to which Brazil has exported live animals in 2004:
	
		
			 Type Description £000 Tonnes 
		
		
			 Beef Paraguay 12 11 
			 
			 Poultry Argentina 1,545 1,344 
			  Chile 8,969 4,862 
			  France 123,922 58,807 
			  Spain 13,062 6,625 
			 
			 Grand total  315,099 186,993 
		
	
	Sources:
	H M Revenue and Customs
	Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, DEFRA

Livery Yards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the arrangements for licensing of livery yards.

Ben Bradshaw: Proposals for the licensing of livery yards were published on 14 October in the Regulatory Impact Assessment along with the Animal Welfare Bill. It is proposed that local authorities would be responsible for issuing licenses, which would be of three years duration and would have powers of entry and inspection. A code of practice will provide guidance to the livery yard owner on minimum welfare standards.
	No decisions have been made as to the definition of a livery yard. A full consultation will be undertaken when our proposals have been finalised.

Marine Management Organisation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) remit and (b) responsibilities are of the proposed Marine Management Organisation; and which bodies are presently responsible for discharging each such responsibility.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The establishment of a new public body, currently referred to as the Marine Management Organisation, is one option that is being considered as part of proposals for a Marine Bill.
	A Bill may create new marine functions, delivery of some or all of which may best be carried out by a new public body. In such circumstances that new public body may also be well placed to deliver other functions that are presently delivered by, or on behalf of, Government in the marine area.
	However, at this stage no decision has yet been made as to the need for such a public body. Correspondingly, no decisions have been made as to what its remit might be, or what responsibilities it might discharge.
	The Government have taken a very open approach to its consideration of what a new public body might deliver, engaging stakeholders at the very earliest stage in policy development. This has been achieved through a stakeholder forum (26 September) and a series of bilateral meetings with key stakeholders.
	A public consultation exercise in early 2006 will be an opportunity for the Government to offer more information on what role such a new public body might play, and for stakeholders to contribute to the policy development process on this and other elements of the Marine Bill.

National Register of Poultry Businesses

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances those who have released (a) poultry and (b) gamebirds into the wild will be required to register on the National Register of Poultry Businesses.

Ben Bradshaw: It is a legal requirement for all commercial premises with 50 or more poultry to register. This applies whether the 50 poultry are of a single species or a combination of species, which include pheasants and partridge. For game bird premises, which are included under this requirement, the information supplied should only relate to captive birds and those still under the control of the keeper, and not to birds that may remain on the premises (for example, in a woodland area on the premises) after release. If production is seasonal, as with partridges and pheasants, only the usual number of birds when production/stock is at peak capacity should be recorded.

Organic Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with supermarkets and other retailers regarding sourcing organic food from home suppliers.

Ben Bradshaw: I have had discussions with ASDA, Tesco and Morrisons on organic issues, including sourcing organic food from home supplies. My noble Friend, the Minister for Farming and Food (The Lord Bach), who is now the Minister responsible for organic issues in the Department has recently met Sir Ken Morrison. My officials also have regular contact with representatives from supermarkets and retailers.

Pet Travel Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls against rabies form part of the pet travel scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The controls against rabies relating to dogs and cats entering the UK are as follows. They must first be fitted with a microchip, then vaccinated against rabies, but not before they are three months old, and then have a blood test carried out at a laboratory approved by the European Union to ensure the vaccination was satisfactory.
	They must be issued with an EU pet passport or third country certificate. They may not enter or return to the UK until six calendar months have passed from the date the blood sample was taken that provided a satisfactory test result. They must enter the UK using an approved transport company on an authorised route which ensures they will have their microchip read and documentation checked before entering the country. In the six months before entering or returning to the UK they must not have travelled to countries other than those listed under EU Regulation 998/2003 on the movement of pet animals.
	Ferrets are subject to broadly similar but not identical controls.
	Dogs, cats and ferrets which do not comply with these rules can only enter this country if they spend up to six months in UK quarantine.

Quarantine

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) criminal convictions and (b) a history of breaching quarantine procedures are taken into consideration before a licence to quarantine birds is granted to an individual; and whether a (i) criminal conviction for fraud and (ii) a history of breaching quarantine procedures precludes the attainment of a licence to quarantine birds.

Ben Bradshaw: Checks are not carried out on individuals submitting applications for approval of quarantine premises.
	The conditions for approving quarantine premises are laid down in Commission Decision 2000/666/EC. In addition to the prescribed standards which the premises themselves must meet, such as location and structure, to obtain approval for the centre or facility, the applicant has to demonstrate that the centre or facility meets the management requirements imposed by the Commission Decision, as well as welfare standards. Recommendations for approval or non-approval following a veterinary visit can take into account other known, relevant information.
	Approvals are effective for one year and are dependent on all the laid-down conditions being met. Approvals may be withdrawn at any time should the approval requirements of the Commission Decision not be met.

Race Equality Impact Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many race equality impact assessments her Department completed between (a) April 2004 and March 2005 and (b) April 2005 and November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

Jim Knight: From April 2004 to March 2005, Defra completed nine race equality impact assessments (REIAs), eight of which resulted in policy changes.
	From April 2005 to November 2005 Defra completed 10 REIAs, two of which resulted in policy changes.
	It should be noted that while this was the formal number of REIAs notified to the Home Office, which monitors this area of work across Government, it is not possible to give a precise number. In Defra, multiple assessments have been carried out in a single policy area with the results being published under a single heading. Defra's Diversity Strategy is seeking to embed diversity into the business ensuring that impact assessments are intrinsic to business management, therefore, in some areas the impact assessment process is so embedded that they are not recorded separately. Therefore the numbers provided are lower than actually took place.

Refrigerators

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to update the guidance on the recovery and disposal of controlled substances contained in refrigerators and freezers.

Ben Bradshaw: This guidance was produced by the Environment Agency. It plans to review the guidance to coincide with the implementation of the treatment requirements of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive.

Rights of Way

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how many kilometres of additional rights of way on foot there would be if the public were to have access to all of the coastline of England.

Jim Knight: I cannot currently provide a reliable estimate.
	In line with Defra five year strategy we are looking at ways to improve access to the coast. We have asked the Countryside Agency, working together with its Natural England confederation partners English Nature and the Rural Development Service, to undertake research and analysis to identify possible options to improve access to the coast. One of the options to be investigated will include possible improvements to the rights of way network using existing rights of way legislation.
	As part of this work, the Natural England confederation partners are undertaking an information gathering exercise to collect data on a national basis to gain a comprehensive picture of the coast and existing access provision. They will report on their findings in 2006 in advance of a public consultation document which we aim to issue in October 2006. At that stage I will be in a better position to estimate the extent to which public rights of way would need to increase, if that was the option chosen as the best way to improve access to the coast.

Waste Disposal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental effects of using incinerators to dispose of waste.

Ben Bradshaw: Waste incineration with energy recovery offers a substantial climate change benefit compared to the alternative of landfill. This is a result of displaced fossil fuel from conventional power generation, reduced methane emissions from landfill and additional recovery of metals for recycling.
	Defra has published an independent study, 'Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management', which concluded that on the evidence from studies so far, the treatment of municipal solid waste—including by incineration—has at most a minor effect on human health and the environment. The report is available on Defra's website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/research/health/index.htm.

Wildlife and Countryside Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many convictions for possession of birds listed on Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which have relied on DNA samples as evidence have been successful; and in how many such cases her Department provided to the police registration details maintained under section 7 of the Act.

Jim Knight: The Department does not keep a record of the specific evidence used in prosecutions.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average time adults have waited from application to completion of adoption proceedings of a child in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Greater London and (d) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures relating to adoptions dealt with in the county courts to the questions can be found in the following tables.
	
		County CourtsEngland & Wales
		
			  Step parent adoptions Placements Foreign adoptions All 
			  Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks 
		
		
			 2000–01 728 29.8 80.4 2,029 20.0 91.6 24 21.3 87.5 2,781 22.5 88.6 
			 2001–02 792 34.0 68.4 2,645 22.3 85.7 54 27.7 70.4 3,491 25.0 81.5 
			 2002–03 676 34.4 73.4 2,830 21.1 89.4 58 31.9 77.6 3,564 23.8 86.2 
			 2003–04 737 40.1 72.5 3,398 23.6 88.1 69 64.7 69.6 4,204 27.1 85.1 
			 2004–05 551 28.0 83.5 3,092 18.7 92.9 33 29.6 90.9 3,676 20.2 91.4 
		
	
	
		London
		
			  Step parent adoptions Placements Foreign adoptions All 
			  Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks 
		
		
			 2000–01 29 23.2 89.7 133 25.7 83.5 3 30.0 66.7 165 25.4 84.2 
			 2001–02 42 32.8 71.4 147 31.0 72.1 4 34.1 75.0 193 31.5 72.0 
			 2002–03 27 38.5 66.7 159 29.4 75.5 7 49.6 57.1 193 31.4 73.6 
			 2003–04 48 49.6 60.4 427 32.8 81.5 15 56.4 73.3 490 35.1 79.2 
			 2004–05 29 32.2 75.9 349 27.7 84.5 4 26.0 100.0 382 28.0 84.0 
		
	
	
		Essex area
		
			  Step parent adoptions Placements Foreign adoptions All 
			  Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks 
		
		
			 2000–01 5 14.2 100.0 77 20.6 96.1 0 0.0 0.0 82 20.2 96.3 
			 2001–02 8 15.4 100.0 115 21.0 89.6 1 4.4 100.0 124 20.5 90.3 
			 2002–03 13 31.3 84.6 109 18.0 97.2 1 6.9 100.0 123 19.3 95.9 
			 2003–04 15 33.6 86.7 109 21.6 89.0 0 0.0 0.0 124 23.0 88.7 
			 2004–05 10 23.7 90.0 108 18.5 90.7 0 0.0 0.0 118 18.9 90.7 
		
	
	
		Southend
		
			  Step parent adoptions Placements All 
			  Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks Orders made Average waiting time (weeks) % }20 weeks 
		
		
			 2000–01 4 14.1 100.0 10 14.6 100.0 14 14.5 100.0 
			 2001–02 2 9.4 100.0 3 32.6 100.0 5 23.3 100.0 
			 2002–03 — — — — — — — — — 
			 2003–04 — — — — — — — — — 
			 2004–05 — — — — — — — — —

After-school Clubs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she (a) is taking, and (b) plans to take to allow schools to run after-school clubs on their premises; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Many schools already provide a good range of after school clubs on their premises. The Education Act 2002 gave school governing bodies the power to provide community facilities on school premises which will enable those clubs to develop into formal child care offers where there is parental demand for those services.
	The Government want all schools to provide access to extended services, including child care, a varied menu of study support, and before and after school clubs, by 2010, with half of all primaries and a third of all secondaries doing so by 2008.
	To support schools in setting up and embedding extended services, we have committed £840 million up to 2008. These funds can be used flexibly to help address any practical issues that schools may be facing to develop extended services.
	We have also asked the National Remodelling Team(NRT) within the Teacher Development Agency, working with voluntary sector partners such as Continyou and 4Children to support LAs and schools nationally as they implement extended services.

Autism (Funding)

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether guidelines will be published for local education authorities on funding for pupils with autism through (a) elective home learning, (b) dedicated autism-specific units within special schools and (c) adapted general provision within special schools.

Maria Eagle: We have no plans to publish such guidelines.
	It is for local authorities to decide how to deploy the funds available to them to meet the needs of children with special educational needs (SEN), including those children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). Budgeted expenditure by local authorities on meeting children's SEN in 2005–06 is £4.1 billion, some 13 per cent. of all education spending. In 2004 the Department published guidance The management of SEN expenditure" providing information and suggested approaches to managing this expenditure. In 2002 the Department, with the Department of Health, published Good Practice Guidance on ASDs which gave pointers to good practice, including pointers on funding and home-based provision.
	Local authorities have a duty to keep their arrangements for special educational provision under review and it is for them to take decisions about SEN provision in their schools, in consultation with the schools including special schools, and fund that provision appropriately. Funding for individual pupils with autism in special schools is through their SEN statements, which set out their needs and the provision required to meet those needs.

Bookstart (Kettering)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have participated in the Bookstart scheme in Kettering constituency, broken down by location; and how many books have been distributed.

Beverley Hughes: This is essentially a matter for Book trust. The total number of Bookstart packs issued in Kettering from 2002 to October 2005 is 6,206. This information cannot be further broken down by location.

Childcare Bill

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial provision her Department expects to make to (a) English and (b) Hertfordshire local authorities to enable them to fulfil their statutory duties in part 1 of the Childcare Bill.

Beverley Hughes: The Government have invested well over £17 billion on early years and child care services since 1997.
	The new duties described in the Childcare Bill will be funded through their General Sure Start Grant (GSSG) allocations. An announcement of GSSG funding for 2006–07 and 2007–08 is due to be made shortly.
	The substantial additional funding agreed in the spending review 2004, and pre-Budget report (PBR) for 2004, will enable governmental spending on Sure Start to reach £1.8 billion in 2007–08, around double the 2004–05 figure. This represents an average real annual increase of 24 per cent.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list departmental projects conducted by consultants in each year since 2000; what the cost was in each case; and what the total cost of employing consultants was in each year.

Maria Eagle: No projects have been conducted by consultants for the Department for Education and skills in the years since 2000.
	With regard to the total cost of employing consultants in the years since 2000, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2057W, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families on 23 June 2005, Official Report, column1168W.

Dental Schools

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1310W, on dental schools, how many of the temporary allocation places are the subject of bids to make them permanent; and at which schools the places are.

Bill Rammell: Due to the competitive nature of the bidding process, we are unable to release details about the bids from individual dental schools. However, all the dental schools that received a temporary allocation of dental student numbers have submitted bids for permanent places. In total, an increase of 142 dental student places is being sought by the existing dental schools.
	The bids from existing dental schools, together with the bids to support new dental schools, will be considered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)/Department of Health Dental Joint Implementation Group (JIG) on 9 December. Recommendations from the JIG will be put to the HEFCE board in January 2006.

Departmental Estate

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under plans for relocation.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills have not ceased to use any buildings and sites in the last year or have buildings and sites that will be closed under current plans for relocation.

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department and its agencies have spent on (a) the design and production of new logos and (b) employing external (i) public relations and (ii) graphic design agencies in each year since 2000, broken down by project.

Bill Rammell: It would only be possible to provide details of expenditure on design and production of new logos at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure by year, on external public relations for my Department is listed in the following table. The detailed breakdown of expenditure by project (from January 2001) has been placed in the Library for reference.
	
		
			  Financial year Expenditure on Public Relations (£ million) 
		
		
			 2000–01 0.8 
			 2001–02 1.7 
			 2002–03 2.4 
			 2003–04 1.9 
			 2004–05 0.9 
			 2005–06 (Expenditure to date for 2005–06) 0.3 
		
	
	Expenditure on graphic designs agencies is not identified separately from other design costs and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Report

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the programmes aggregated as Other Miscellaneous programmes in each section of table 12.2 of her Department's 2005 departmental report.

Bill Rammell: The Miscellaneous Programmes in table 12.2 of the Department for Education and Skills 2005 departmental report are listed in more details as follows.
	Schools
	Physical Education and Sport
	City Technology Colleges
	Targeted Improvement Grant/Excellence in Cities
	School Enterprise Initiative
	Education Action Zones
	Key Stage Central Departmental Initiatives
	Other Programmes to Support Secondary Education
	Teaching and learning/Gifted and Talented Pupils
	Modern Foreign Languages
	Inclusion Programmes (including Behaviour and Aim Higher)
	Music and Ballet Scheme
	British Education Communications and Technology Agency
	Premature Retirement Compensation for Teachers in Voluntary Colleges
	Innovations Fund
	Teachers Pensions—Contractual Costs
	Licensing for School Activities, School Performance and Accountability—Assessment team
	Assisted Places Scheme
	Research on School Performance
	Energy Savings Trust and Learning Through Landscapes
	ICT Development and Evaluation
	Teachers' Medical Fees
	Higher Education
	Student Support Contingency Reserve
	Aim Higher
	Foundation Degree Marketing
	European University—Initiative Subscription
	European International Services
	College of Europe Bologna Centre
	European University Institute Bursaries
	Student Loans Debt Sale Adjustment
	Support for Children, Young People and Families
	Extended Schools
	Vulnerable Children Grant
	Parenting Fund and Activities Supporting Parenting
	Family Fund Trust
	Youth Related Activities
	Special Educational Needs including support for Early Years, Communities Aid Project, Disability Tribunal and Non-maintained Special Schools
	Change Fund
	Teenage Pregnancy
	Information Sharing and Assessment
	Disabled Access: Youth Service
	Communication Unit
	Local Authority Capacity and Intervention
	DirectGov
	Section 64 Grant to Voluntary Sector
	Children's Commissioner
	Publicity
	Participation Fund
	Adoption Services
	Invest to Save Funded Children's Agenda Programmes
	Child Contract Centres
	Child Protection Co-ordinators
	Quality Protects Regional Development Fund
	Further Education, Adult Learning, Skills and Lifelong Learning
	FE Teach Learn Train Bursary
	Student Support
	International Education Programmes
	International Labour Organisation Subscription
	Management Information Across Partners
	Bridging Allowance for 16 to 19-year-olds
	Activities to Support all Functions
	E-portals

Departmental Staff

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  who the Director of Human Resources is in her Department; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what the details are of his or her career to date;
	(2)  who is responsible for managing the Estate of her Department; what relevant specialist qualification he or she holds; and what the details are of his or her career to date;
	(3)  who the Director General of Finance and Analytical Services is in her Department; what specialist finance qualifications he or she holds; and what the details are of his or her career to date;
	(4)  when she will answer questions (a) 26324, (b) 26325 and (c) 26326 tabled by the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon on 3 November 2005.

Maria Eagle: In response to the hon. Members question 33010 the replies are as follows:
	The Director General: Finance, Analysis and Strategy is Peter Makeham, who holds a BA(Hons) in Economics and Economic History and an MA in Labour Economics. His experience in the civil service includes spells in the treasury and the Department for Trade and Industry, and a secondment during the early part of his career to Unilever.
	The Director General: Corporate Services and Development is Susan Thomas, who holds a BA(Hons) in Political Science and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. Her background is in local government and the further education sector. The remit of her post includes overall responsibility for both human resources and facilities management.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in her Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Maria Eagle: My Department and sponsored organisations are implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate around 800 posts from the Department and its non-departmental public bodies out of London and the South East by 2010.
	There have been no relocations of posts in my Department into London and the South East since we began to implement the Lyons Review in 2004. There are no figures available for relocations before that time.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to relocate staff in her Department and related agencies into London and the south-east.

Maria Eagle: My Department and sponsored organisations have no plans to relocate staff into London and the south-east.

Direct Grants

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the voluntary and private organisations which have received (a) up to £5,000 and (b) over £5,000 in direct grants from her Department in the 2005–06 financial year; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Department's accounting system does not separately identify private organisations who receive grant and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A list of bodies identified as in the voluntary sector which have received (a) under £5,000 and (b) over £5,000 in direct grants to date in 2005–06 are as follows.
	Voluntary organisations receiving under £5,000 to date in 2005–06
	Forum on Prisoner Education
	National Autistic Society
	NCH
	One Plus One
	Parent Education Support Forum
	Voluntary organisations receiving over £5,000 to date in 2005–06
	Action for Prisoners Families
	Advisory Centre for Education
	Agency for Culture and Change Management
	Anyadwe Children and Family Welfare Association
	Calderdale Womens Centre
	Change
	Children's Legal Centre
	Circles Network
	Eating Disorders Association
	Families Need Fathers
	Family Matters Institute
	Family Rights Group
	FILM IT
	Good Shepherd Charities for Children
	Learning Partnerships
	Local NE Community Foundation
	Lubavitch Youth
	Mancroft Advice Project
	National Association of Child Contact Centres
	NACRO (Sheffield)
	National Black Boys Can Association
	National Deaf Children's Society
	National Tenants' Resource Centre
	NCH South West
	National Council of One Parent Families
	National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations
	New Forest and Romsey Mobile Community Project
	National Family and Planning Institute
	Parentline Plus
	Positive Parenting Publications
	Princess Royal Trust for Carers
	Race Equality Unit
	Royal National Institute for the Blind
	Scope
	South London Tamil Welfare Group
	Springboard Family Project
	Student Force for Sustainability
	Trust for the Study of Adolescence
	Wai Yin Chinese Women Society
	YMCA England
	Young Minds

Extended Services

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of schools in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) Kettering constituency that will be delivering extended services in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008; and to how many children and parents she expects such provision will be available.

Beverley Hughes: This Government wants all schools to provide access to a core offer of extended services by 2010, with half of all primary and a third of all secondary schools doing so by 2008. We want to see at least 2,500 schools providing access to the core offer by September 2006. The core offer, which should be available to all parents and pupils of the school, comprises: high quality childcare; a varied menu of study support activities; parenting support programmes; swift and easy referral to a wide range of specialised support services; and wider community access. It will be for individual local authorities, in discussion with all schools in their area, to take a strategic approach to developing access to the core offer through schools. This will include determining how many primary and secondary schools develop access to the core offer in each year. On 29 September 2005 my Department published its report on the baseline survey of extended services in schools which it commissioned earlier in the year. The survey showed that nationally the vast majority of schools were providing access to some form of extended activity. The survey did not provide figures at local authority level.

Further Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2005, Official Report, columns 817–8W, on further education, how the categories and figures given relate to the categories and figures in Annex B of the Learning and Skills Council Grant letter for funded institutions.

Bill Rammell: In the LSC Grant letter for 2006–07 the resources for (i) the Learner Support Fund, (ii) Care to Learn, (iii) Dance and Drama Awards, (iv) Adult Learning Grant and (v) Career Development Loans areall included in the Learner Support Funds line of Block B. The education maintenance allowance resources make up Block E.

Further Education

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans her Department has to review the levels of funding allocated to further education against demand for places in (a) Lancashire and (b) England.

Bill Rammell: Our 14–19 and Skills White Papers clearly articulate our priorities for post-14 education and training. Higher participation among young people must have the highest priority, alongside helping disadvantaged adults gain basic and Level 2 skills for employability and progression to Level 3. Starting from these strategic objectives we have reviewed the SR2004 settlement announced in April 2004 and we have agreed a funding strategy with the LSC for the next two years that is driven by policy priorities and the successes of the sector.
	On the 21 October, I made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. My main purpose for doing so was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years.
	In addition, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) published 'Priorities for Success'-a document that sets out the funding strategy for the next two years in more detail. This document is available on the LSC's website.
	Although more funding will be going into the sector, we will focus funding even more strongly on key priorities of raising participation and achievement 14–19 and driving down the skills deficit in the adult workforce. This will mean that less provision outside these priority areas can be supported at previous levels, and that there has to be a new balance of responsibilities between government, employers and learners to achieve this.
	We confirmed our overall funding to the LSC for 2006–07 in our grant letter of 30 October 2005 and the LSC published its annual statement of priorities in November. The LSC as part of its business cycle conducts an annual stock-take of learning and skills in England and at regional level, working with Regional Skills Partnerships, identifies regional skills needs. Building on this national and regional activity, local LSC teams analyse anticipated demand and prepare local plans which are then reviewed at regional and national level before budgets are confirmed.
	These processes ensure that within our available funding we address the needs of learners, employers and partners in a framework that meets our strategic objectives.

Higher Education

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the proportion of students on higher education courses from social groups (a) D and (b) E in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The latest available figures on the social background of students entering higher education are given in the following tables. The categories used to measure social background were revised in 2002/03: the socio-economic group classification was introduced to replace the social class groupings, but the two classifications are not directly comparable.
	
		UK domiciled students accepted to full-time undergraduate courses by UK institutions, by social class
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 
		
		
			 Total acceptances 303,320 298,220 303,070 308,720 325,470 
			 Of which, proportion1 whose social background was:   
			 I Professional 14.8 14.7 14.7 14.5 14.4 
			 II Intermediate 43.7 44.1 43.8 43.8 43.7 
			 IIIN Skilled non-manual 13.9 13.6 13.7 14.1 14.0 
			 IIIM Skilled manual 16.7 16.9 16.9 16.5 17.5 
			 IV Partly skilled 8.8 8.7 8.8 9.0 8.4 
			 V Unskilled 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(13)Based on those students who provided details of their social background. In each of these years, around 15 per cent. of students did not provide details of their background.
	Source:
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.
	
		UK domiciled students accepted to full-time undergraduate courses by UK institutions, by socio-economic group
		
			  2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Total acceptances 331,730 333,940 334,300 
			 Of which, proportion1 whose social background was: 
			 Higher managerial and professional 22.7 22.3 22.2 
			 Lower managerial and professional 30.9 31.1 31.5 
			 Intermediate occupations 15.6 15.2 15.2 
			 Small employers 7.4 7.5 7.4 
			 Lower supervisory/technical 4.7 5.0 4.9 
			 Semi-routine 12.8 13.2 13.2 
			 Routine 5.9 5.7 5.7 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(14)Based on those students who provided details of their social background. In each of these years, around 20 per cent. of students did not provide details of their background.
	Source:
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Higher Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the new funding that will be provided for higher education in September 2006 she expects will be spent on staff salaries.

Bill Rammell: Universities are autonomous and responsible for determining their own academic and administrative affairs, including deciding what to pay their own staff. Pay and conditions of service are subject to negotiations between employers, their staff and their representative trade union bodies. The Government play no part in this.
	There are many reasons underlying our higher education reforms, of which the variable fees policy forms a part: one is to provide institutions with a secure income stream, which is under their own control. The Government are not in the business of micro-managing how institutions' fee income is spent; institutions are best placed to make these decisions—including, for example, how much to put into student bursaries, to enable more students to participate in HE, and how much to put into staff pay and conditions. They will also want to consider how best to invest in their infrastructure to meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's learners. Only institutions can sensibly decide on the balance between different priorities, in the light of their individual circumstances.

Higher Education

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets she has set for participation rates in (a) higher education and (b) first degree courses for each year to 2015.

Bill Rammell: The participation target we have set is to make progress towards 50 per cent. of 18–30 year olds having had experience of higher education by 2010.
	We report regularly on progress against this target, but we do not have interim targets for the years leading up to 2010. We do not have a target for participation rates for later years.

Learning and Skills Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under which category in band B of the Learning and Skills Council budget the Union Learning Fund comes.

Bill Rammell: The £12.5 million funds for the Union Learning Fund are included in the overall £76.744 million Capacity and Infrastructure line of Block B of the LSC Grant letter for 2006–07.

Maladministration

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which her Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It is the policy of the Department for Education and Skills, its non-departmental public bodies and its sponsored organisations to make financial redress in accordance with the guidance set out in Chapter 18.7 and Annexes 18.1 and 18.2 of Government Accounting."
	However, the information you requested is not held centrally by the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list her Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required (a) to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) to publish any response to advice received from such bodies.

Bill Rammell: My Department sponsors three advisory non-departmental public bodies: the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy (IAGTP), the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) and the Teachers' TV Board of Governors. The Government are not required to consult any of them prior to legislative proposals. The Government are not required to but does respond to advice from the IAGTP and STRB. It is also expected that the Teachers' TV Board of Governors will publish the response to its advice following the publication of its first annual report at the end of 2005.

Science Graduates

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many students have graduated in (a) chemistry, (b) physics and (c) mathematics or further mathematics in each year since 1990;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of trends in the numbers of physics and chemistry graduates on (a) science and technology industries and (b) the teaching profession.

Bill Rammell: The table shows the annual number of first degree qualifiers in the Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from 1989/90 to the latest available data. Please note discontinuities in the time-series at 2000/01 and 2002/03, as explained in the table notes.
	
		First degree qualifiers in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from UK HE institutions(15)
		
			 Academic year Physics Chemistry Mathematics 
		
		
			 1989/90 2,200 2,620 2,450 
			 1990/91 2,320 2,880 2,515 
			 1991/92 2,215 3,075 2,815 
			 1992/93 2,275 3,240 3,085 
			 1993/94 2,410 3,370 3,070 
			 1994/95 2,480 4,110 3,435 
			 1995/96 2,000 4,145 3,385 
			 1996/97 2,440 3,755 3,115 
			 1997/98 2,320 3,395 3,370 
			 1998/99 2,320 3,625 3,640 
			 1999/2000 2,300 3,425 3,545 
			 
			 2000/01(16) 2,450 3,285 3,720 
			 2001/02 2,210 3,215 3,725 
			 
			 2002/03(17) 2,205 2,955 4,390 
			 2003/04 2,180 2,735 4,655 
		
	
	(15)Figures up to and including 1993/94 cover full-time and sandwich qualifiers at English and Welsh polytechnics (1993/94 covers English polytechnics only) and qualifiers from universities in Great Britain. Figures for 1994/95 onwards cover all UK HE institutions.
	(16)Figures from 1994/95 to 1999/2000 exclude qualifications obtained from students studying on dormant modes of study. Figures for 2000/01 onwards include these students.
	(17)Figures for 2001/02 and earlier are based upon the major subject of the qualification. For 2002/03 onwards, figures by subject are apportioned between the subjects studied.
	Source:
	Universities Statistical record (USR), AGCAS Polytechnic Statistics Working group and Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	A review by Sir Gareth Roberts 1 demonstrated skill shortages within the science and technology industries and in response we have launched the 10-year science and innovation investment framework with the specific aim of attracting more students into science and engineering. The first annual report was published in July.
	Falling numbers of chemistry and physics graduates may also have contributed to higher-than-average vacancy rates for science teachers 2 . In response, science graduates studying for Postgraduate Certificates of Education are now eligible for training bursaries of £7,000 starting courses in 2005, which will rise to £9,000 for those starting in 2006. If they go on to teach science in a maintained school they become eligible after completing their induction for a 'golden hello' of £5,000.
	As stated at the recent evidence session on strategic science provision, we have noted HEFCE's advice that university science departments are not in crisis. In fact provisional UCAS data on 2005/06 entry indicates that there is a higher than average increase of 10 per cent.+ in the number of students entering science (including physics and chemistry), technology, engineering and mathematics. However, we are not complacent and we will keep this under review to see if more action is needed.
	1 SET for success, published in April 2002. 2 DfES Statistical First Release 41.

Special Educational Needs

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the letter sent recently to all local education authorities setting out the statutory duties under the Education Act 1996 regarding special educational needs.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Education and Skills writes to Chief Education Officers from time to time about issues concerning the special educational needs legislation. The letter to Chief Education Officers and Directors of Children's Services dated 15 November 2005 is the most recent of such letters. It will be published on the Teachernet website www.teachernet.gov.uk/sen.

Student Loans

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many settlement figures were issued to borrowers by the Student Loans Company Ltd. in 2003–04 (a) on the basis of payslips sent in by the borrower showing evidence of payments and (b) on the basis of other information.

Bill Rammell: It is not possible to report on the basis of the two categories requested as borrowers can ask for settlement quotations without providing any evidence. In the financial year 2003–04 there were 61,005 settlement quotations issued to 39,729 customers.

Student Loans

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost to public funds was on the latest date for which figures are available per (a) loan and (b) borrower of calculating settlement figures for borrowers wishing to pay off their loan with the Student Loans Company Ltd. in one payment.

Bill Rammell: Full costs for this work are not available.

Student Loans

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice she has given the Student Loans Company Ltd. about helping borrowers to pay off their loans with the company in a lump sum; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Borrowers can repay their income contingent student loans at any time. The Student Loans Company has provided an online calculator to assist borrowers in assessing their loan balance at any time between the annual statements SLC sends borrowers based on reconciliation by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs of employers' annual returns of loan repayments.

Sure Start

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children living in disadvantaged areas of (a) Staffordshire and (b) Tamworth constituency are participating in Sure Start schemes.

Beverley Hughes: There are approximately 8,400 disadvantaged children aged 0–4 living in Staffordshire. At present around 4,750 children under the age of five are within reach of a Sure Start local programme or a Sure Start children's centre in Staffordshire. In addition, 425 new full day care places have been created through the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative.
	Tamworth Sure Start local programme currently delivers services to almost 450 children aged 0–3. The programme is expected to develop into a Sure Start children's centre in Phase 2 of the children's centre programme between 2006–08. The Manna House Neighbourhood Nursery in Tamworth offers 28 full day care places for children from birth to school age.
	All disadvantaged children living in Staffordshire will have access to a Sure Start children's centre by March 2008.

Teacher Vacancies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time teacher vacancies there are in (i) secondary, (ii) primary and (iii) special schools in Southend; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The following table provides the number of full and part-time teacher vacancies in nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Southend local authority in January 2005, the latest information available.
	
		Number of full-time and part-time vacancies(18) in maintained nursery and primary, secondary and special schools in Southend, January 2005
		
			  Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 Nursery/primary 7 0 
			 Secondary 11 5 
			 Special 0 0 
		
	
	(18)Advertised vacancies for full and part-time permanent appointments (or appointments of a least one term's duration). Excludes vacancies filled by a teacher on a contract of a term or more.
	Source:
	DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (Form 618G).
	The hon. Member may wish to know that I am today publishing my response to the fifteenth report of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). Copies are available in the Vote Office and in the Library of the House of Lords and at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk.
	In making its recommendations, the STRB was required to have regard to the matters set out in the remit letter of 10 March 2005, which included, among other matters, the need to have regard to the enhancement of recruitment and retention. The fifteenth STRB report deals with some very important matters affecting teachers' pay, including the pay award from 2006–08, and I am most grateful for the careful and detailed attention the STRB has given to these matters. The STRB recommendations are set out followed in each case by my response.
	I am seeking consultation comments on the report and my response by 10 January 2006.
	Pay Award
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend:
	an increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2006 and a further increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2007 in the values of the leadership group pay scale;
	an increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2006 and a further increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2007 in the values of the main pay scale and upper pay scale for qualified teachers, the pay scale for unqualified teachers and the new 18 point pay scale for Advanced Skills Teachers;
	a slightly enhanced pay increase for certain points on the main pay scale in bands A and B, as outlined in Appendix C; and
	that should the average rate of headline inflation for the 12 months preceding April 2007 (i.e. April 2006 to March 2007) or April 2008 (i.e. April 2007 to March 2008) fall below 1.75 per cent. or exceed 3.25 per cent., any of the consultees can ask the STRB to consider the case for seeking a remit from the Secretary of State of State to review teachers' pay.
	This is a central recommendation, which is key in terms of recruitment to and retention in the teaching profession as well as its impact on schools' budgets. It is of crucial importance that the significant investment this Government has made in public sector pay in general and in the pay of teachers in particular continues to produce dividends. We must be confident that any further increases can be justified and afforded.
	An award of 2.5 per cent. could not be considered acceptable on the basis that it represented anticipated inflation over the period to which the pay award relates, or that an award at this level is necessary to protect teachers from a real terms pay cut. In its latest Inflation Report, the Bank of England forecasts CPI inflation to fall to just below the 2 per cent. target next year and then to be close to the 2 per cent. target in subsequent years.
	However, it is clear from the report that the STRB has given close consideration to a range of evidence relating to the overall labour market position of teachers and has reached a balanced judgment as to a suitable level of award for the next period, taking into account both appropriateness and affordability. In particular, the STRB has noted its concerns about the need to ensure a continuing supply of high quality teachers, consolidating the improvements made in recruiting and retaining good teachers at a time of change, and some emerging evidence of recruitment and retention issues in relation to specific groups of teachers.
	In the light of this analysis, I propose to accept the recommendation for teachers, including the slightly enhanced increase for teachers at certain points on the main scale in Inner and Outer London. I also accept the STRB's argument regarding leadership group pay and agree that the same rise for this group is appropriate.
	I also accept the basis of the review mechanism as set out above.
	Leadership Group
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend:
	that the Secretary of State remit us to look fundamentally at the leadership group and how its changing role and responsibilities should be reflected in its future pay structure;
	to provide a sound evidence base for that remit, that a comprehensive independent study be carried out by December 2006 on the roles, responsibilities, structures and reward systems for the leadership group, looking at both current practice and likely future developments, and including at least the following issues:
	new models of headship;
	the role and functions of deputy and assistant heads;
	administrative support;
	recruitment planning;
	type of contract; and
	reward.
	I very much welcome the STRB's recommendation for an independent study into the developing roles and responsibilities of the leadership group. This is very timely given the need for schools to respond effectively to Government priorities in England such as greater personalisation, extended schools, Every Child Matters and the 14 to 19 agenda, and to initiatives in these and other areas in Wales. Schools will need to become more outward facing, more flexible and, as we have set out in the Schools White Paper for England, work far more collaboratively with others, including parents, if we are to make the next step change in raising attainment and opening opportunities. I want to make sure that we can support our leadership teams effectively and have the right people in place to take forward these changes. For this reason I will wish to explore with partners the extent to which the terms of reference for such a review should not only encompass but also go further than those outlined by the STRB. I will also wish to consider the arrangements for handling the review, including whether the proposed timetable is appropriate, or whether it should be run in parallel with a general review of teachers' duties.
	Excellent Teacher Scheme (ETS)
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend that:
	the Excellent Teacher Scheme be reviewed by December 2008 at the latest and that the results of the review be remitted to this Review Body for appropriate consideration and recommendation;
	the salary for the ETS to be a spot salary, as previously recommended;
	the spot salary be determined by individual schools and services within an ETS salary range;
	the ETS salary range from September 2006 be £35,000 to £45,000 in pay bands B to D, and extend additionally to £50,000 in pay band A;
	the minimum and maximum of the ETS salary range and ETS spot salaries determined prior to September 2007 be increased by 2.5 per cent. in September 2007.
	The remit to the STRB invited it to make recommendations on what the appropriate spot salary for Excellent Teachers should be in the respective pay regions, following the recommendations in its Fourteenth Report. I am grateful to the STRB for its advice.
	The Excellent Teacher Scheme is a welcome career pathway for teachers who are excellent classroom practitioners and is an important addition to the teacher's career structure, to which I remain committed. The STRB has suggested that the Excellent Teacher scheme should be reviewed by December 2008.1 believe it would be helpful to keep the scheme under review but that it would be most helpful to do so in the context of our wider plans for a new teacher professionalism and the development of the career structure of the profession as a whole. I will give further thought to the arrangements and timing.
	The STRB has made a number of recommendations about the salary for Excellent Teachers. The first Excellent Teachers will be appointed from September 2006 and schools are already considering whether to include Excellent Teacher posts in their staffing structures and how many Excellent Teacher posts they need. It is important that schools have a clear understanding about the potential salary implications of Excellent Teacher posts so they can plan effectively; that the arrangements for determining Excellent Teacher salaries are unambiguous and can be implemented effectively; and that the approach to Excellent Teacher salaries is consistent with our approach to teachers' pay more generally.
	In the light of these considerations, I propose to defer introduction of the salary ranges proposed by the STRB until September 2008. I propose that in the interim there should be a single salary rate for each pay region for those holding excellent teacher posts. The level of these salaries should be those proposed by the STRB in its Fourteenth Report, increased in line with the general increases to teachers' pay scales. I believe that this approach will give schools the early clarity they will need to help with the introduction of ETS posts. It will also allow us the opportunity to develop the guidance they will need to help introduce the greater flexibility which the STRB proposes—and which in principle I welcome—in the light of our ongoing review of the operation of the scheme and of further work to be done on standards and duties for the profession as a whole.
	Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) Payments
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend:
	an increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2006 and a further increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2007 in the minimum and maximum of the two TLR ranges;
	an increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2006 and a further increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2007 in the value of individual teachers' TLR payments.
	I welcome these recommendations, which will enable all those receiving TLRs over this period, at whatever level in the relevant ranges those TLRs have been set locally, to receive the same percentage uplift.
	Special Educational Needs (SEN) Allowances
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend:
	an increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2006 and a further increase of 2.5 per cent. from September 2007 in the value of SEN allowances;
	that the Department draw up guidance, in consultation with all interested parties, including BATOD, on how the payment of higher-level SEN allowances might take account of the enhancement of the teaching of SEN pupils brought about by specialist qualifications.
	I welcome the recommended application of the same percentage uplift to SEN allowances as to the other parts of the pay system. I note that the STRB has repeated its recommendation about guidance on specialist qualifications, which was made in 2004 and which was put on hold pending the review of the management allowance system. I am content that this matter should now be discussed with relevant parties.
	Unattached Teachers
	We recommend that:
	the Department investigate the pay and conditions of unattached teachers (including such teachers in the leadership group) in comparison with other teachers. The investigation should be completed in time to inform our next review of teachers' pay.
	The STRB has taken the view that that the pay and conditions of unattached teachers need investigation, because of concerns that unattached teachers do not progress as quickly as other teachers. I recognise this concern and agree that an investigation would be helpful. I propose therefore to arrange such an investigation in the course of 2006.
	Part Time Teachers
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend that:
	the Department undertake further work in association with interested parties to consider the issues in standardising pay and conditions for part time teachers and identify possible solutions;
	the conclusions of this work come back to this Review Body for consideration and recommendation.
	I welcome the STRB's consideration of the issues facing part time teachers; and note its recommendation that further work should be undertaken on this. I will want to consider, with partners, the most effective way of undertaking this work.
	Teachers' Professional Development and Pay Progression
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend that:
	the outcomes of teachers' CPD and, if appropriate, their contribution to others' development, be taken into account as part of a range of evidence when schools assess performance for pay progression purposes; and
	the Department require schools and services to include details in their pay policy about how performance is assessed for pay purposes and how different factors, including the outcomes of CPD and contribution to others' development, are taken into account.
	I welcome the STRB's recommendation that the outcomes of teachers' CPD should be taken into account as part of a range of evidence when schools assess performance for pay progression purposes. I want all teachers to be engaged in effective, sustained and relevant professional development throughout their careers. CPD should not be a bolt-on", short-term experience or narrowly defined as going on courses" but a continuous planned series of activities designed to improved a teacher's knowledge and skills. Some of the most effective professional development is teachers learning from other teachers in the classroom and I want all teachers to be able to benefit from and contribute to coaching and mentoring as they progress in their careers as part of their professional development. I believe the approach recommended by the STRB will help to incentivise, recognise and reward teachers' participation in effective CPD and help to ensure that the professional development activities are planned and evaluated in schools.
	It is important that the arrangements for reflecting assessments of performance in decisions about pay are fair and transparent and can operate effectively at school level without being onerous. I strongly agree that details about how schools and services will assess performance for pay purposes should be included in their pay policy, though I have reservations about introducing a requirement. I will therefore want to give further thought to how best to support this, and invite further views.
	Teachers' Professional Responsibilities
	The STRB has recommended the following:
	We recommend that:
	consultees consider the fundamental question of whether a description of teachers' professional role and responsibilities is needed (specifically whether it is needed in the STPCD), and present us with their written evidence and views by the end of August 2006.
	I am grateful to the STRB for its advice. I accept the STRB's recommendation that consultees should consider the fundamental question of whether a description of teachers' professional role and responsibilities is needed. The current approach of describing professional duties in the STPCD is intended to provide a national framework for local decision-making and to help to clarify the range of responsibilities that are appropriate to different roles. I invite comments on whether it is appropriate to move away from the current approach of describing professional duties in the STPCD at this stage.
	I also believe that there is a need to review the description of teachers' professional duties provided in the STPCD to reflect the recent changes in school and the role of the profession in the 21st century and that further thought should be given to this. I intend to discuss how this can be taken forward with partners.
	Pay of Advanced Skills Teachers in Mathematics and Science in Secondary Schools
	I note that the STRB has not made any recommendation in relation to the remit request that they consider if any changes should be made to the pay of mathematics and science ASTs in secondary schools. However, in noting this I maintain that there are very strong reasons for continuing to pursue the objective behind the remit which was to raise both the quantity and the quality of graduates in these subjects entering and remaining in the teaching profession. Also, I would not wish this to constrain the use of such a focused approach to the determination of pay in the future in appropriate circumstances.
	Pay arrangements for Fast Track teachers
	I note that the STRB has not made any recommendation in relation to the remit request to recommend whether any modifications are required to the pay arrangements of Fast Track teachers. I agree with the suggestion that we continue to encourage Fast Track teachers to undertake at least one post in a challenging school, but how to recognise the leadership impact of Fast Track teachers, and the way in which this can help to raise standards in our schools, remains an important objective for us.
	Pay of Teachers in Challenging Schools
	Finally, I note that the STRB has not made any recommendation in relation to the remit request that they consider other factors which should be taken into account in determining career and pay progression, specifically accelerated pay progression for teachers working in more challenging circumstances. The STRB highlighted the need for schools to make greater use of the flexibilities already in the pay system. This matter remains a significant concern and I will want to consider whether more can be done to raise awareness of the flexibilities provided by the current provisions and how they could be applied in this context.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Civil Service Relocation (Scotland)

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: [holding answer 28 November 2005): The Office of Deputy Prime Minister only began monitoring relocation away from its London Headquarters in September 2003. In this time, there has been no reported relocation of departmental civil service jobs to Scotland.

Council Tax

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the value of a sea view from a coastal property for council tax purposes.

Phil Woolas: None.

Council Tax

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much council tax must be paid by owners of dwellings that are empty after a year; and who sets that level.

Phil Woolas: The council tax discount can be set on second homes at any point between 50 per cent. and 10 per cent. and on long-term empty homes at any pointbetween 50 per cent. and zero. Second homes are homes which are furnished and no-one's main residence, while long-term empty homes are homes which are substantially unfurnished and in general have been unoccupied for at least six months (a substantially unfurnished unoccupied home is generally exempt from council tax for up to six months).
	Local billing authorities are responsible for setting the council tax discount on second and long-term empty homes.

Council Tax

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the council tax is for each band in (a) each London borough and (b) each local authority in Essex; and what it was in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 795W.

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Horwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Office and its agencies have spent on (a) the design and production of new logos and (b) employing external (i) public relations and (ii) graphic design agencies in each year since 2000, broken down by project.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the real terms percentage increase in allocated resources for his Department (a) was for the period 1997–98 to 2004–05 and (b) is estimated to be between 2005–06 and 2007–08 (i) for each period and (ii) for each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The following table sets out in real terms the percentage increase in expenditure from 2002–03 to 2004–05, the increase in allocated resources between 2005–06 and 2007–08 and the increases for each of those years.
	The figures cover total resource and capital spending on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's main programmes and on local government.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Period Increase in expenditure/allocation(19) 
		
		
			 2002–03 to 2004–05 28 
			 2005–06 to 2007–08 15 
			 2003–04 (20)18 
			 2004–05 9 
			 2005–06 10 
			 2005–07 6 
			 2007–08 8 
		
	
	(19)2005–06 onwards.
	(20)This increase was due in part to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister taking on full responsibility for the Supporting People programme of some £1.8 billion.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has a general presumption against locating in London and the South East. However, as an exception to this, ODPM Central will on current planning assumptions relocate another nine posts to its existing Hastings office. A further four posts are expected to be relocated to the Government Office for London and two posts to the Government Office for the South East in order to undertake work closer to the communities involved. In addition, so as to make best use of their existing estate, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's non-departmental public bodies have plans to relocate another 33 posts within London and the South East.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of Deputy Prime Minister only began monitoring relocation away from its London Headquarters in September 2003. In this time, ODPM Central has relocated three posts to its existing Hastings office, on the grounds of Hastings' level of deprivation and regeneration areas status.
	In line with the Office of Deputy Prime Minister's policies for improving regional performance, the majority of our moves to date have been to the Government Offices. This has allowed us to make use of existing ODPM estate and greatly reduce the costs of relocation. Where posts have been dispersed around all the regions in order to undertake work closer to the communities involved; some have moved to the Government Offices for London and the South East. Such dispersal accounts for the seven posts already relocated to the Government Office for London and five posts to the Government Office for the South East.
	The relocation of the above posts is an exception to the Office of Deputy Prime Minister's presumption against locating in London and the South East.

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister takes its responsibilities on environmental and ethical issues very seriously and the documentation it sends out with its invitations to tender make it known that the ODPM requires all of its potential suppliers to comply with key environmental and ethical issues and that these will in conjunction with other criteria be used in evaluating their tender response.

Deprivation (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding streams are available to tackle areas of deprivation in Tamworth.

Phil Woolas: Tamworth was in receipt of Single Regeneration Budget (up to 2005) to help address deprivation in the Glascote area of the town, the one super output area in Tamworth that is among England's 10 per cent. most deprived.
	The Learning and Skills Council, Sure Start and Test-Bed Learning Communities all offer funding streams (via the Department for Education and Skills) that contribute to tackling deprivation in Tamworth. Staffordshire Learning and Skills Council (in partnership with others) is currently supporting the development of a new vocational skills centre in Glascote. This will help to re-engage local people.
	Transitional ERDF Objective 2, ESF Objective 3 and aspects of Home Office funding streams also contribute to tackling deprivation in Tamworth.

Deprivation (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what programmes the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund has funded in Tamworth.

Phil Woolas: Tamworth is not in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). Eligibility for NRF is determined by the Indices of Deprivation.

Local Government Finance

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Northumberland county council, (b) Tynedale district council and (c) Castle Morpeth borough council has been financedfrom council tax in each year since 16 January 1996.

Phil Woolas: The percentage of Revenue Expenditure by Northumberland county council, Tynedale district council and Castle Morpeth borough council that has been financed from council tax in each financial year since 1996–97 is tabled as follows.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Northumberland county council Tynedale district council Castle Morpeth borough council 
		
		
			 1996–97 23.0 38.8 38.8 
			 1997–98 25.0 44.4 43.7 
			 1998–99 27.5 43.9 45.0 
			 1999–2000 28.4 39.4 47.1 
			 2000–01 28.7 45.3 46.2 
			 2001–02 27.7 43.8 43.4 
			 2002–03 29.2 44.8 54.0 
			 2003–04 28.9 41.3 55.3 
			 2004–05 29.7 48.3 57.6 
			 2005–06 29.2 49.7 60.0 
		
	
	The data are as reported by local authorities and are taken from Revenue Summary (RS) returns for 1996–97 to 2003–04, and Revenue Account budget (RA) returns for 2004–05 and 2005–06.
	The definition of council expenditure used here is that expenditure funded from Aggregate External Finance (AEF), council tax and authorities' reserves.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changes in the method of reporting the information. In particular, the outturn data for 1996–97 to 2002–03 have been calculated on a non-FRS (Financial Reporting Standard) 17 basis while the outturn data for 2003–04 has been calculated on an FRS 17 basis. The budget data for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are a mix of FRS 17 and non-FRS 17. This is because for their 2004–05 and 2005–06 budget forms local authorities, after consultation, were given the option to complete their forms either on a non-FRS 17 basis or on an FRS 17 basis. Hence, figures for different years may not be directly comparable.

Local Government Finance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of revenue spending by (a) Northamptonshire county council, (b) Kettering borough council and (c) Daventry district council has been financed from the council tax in each year since 1 January 1996.

Phil Woolas: The percentage of Revenue Expenditure by Northamptonshire county council, Kettering borough council and Daventry district council that has been financed from council tax in each financial year since 1996–97 is in the following table.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Northamptonshire county council Kettering borough council Daventry district council 
		
		
			 1996–97 23.2 29.8 30.5 
			 1997–98 24.1 34.4 33.2 
			 1998–99 24.5 35.4 26.0 
			 1999–2000 25.1 33.6 21.2 
			 2000–01 25.0 32.9 21.5 
			 2001–02 24.9 36.1 44.1 
			 2002–03 27.6 41.5 52.6 
			 2003–04 26.8 37.2 42.6 
			 2004–05 25.9 41.7 48.1 
			 2005–06 25.8 42.2 45.8 
		
	
	The data are as reported by local authorities and are taken from Revenue Summary (RS) returns for 1996–97 to 2003–04, and Revenue Account budget (RA) returns for 2004–05 and 2005–06.
	The definition of council expenditure used here is that expenditure funded from Aggregate External Finance (AEF), council tax and authorities' reserves.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changes in the method of reporting the information. In particular, the outturn data for 1996–97 to 2002–03 have been calculated on a non-FRS (Financial Reporting Standard) 17 basis whilst the outturn data for 2003–04 has been calculated on an FRS 17 basis. The budget data for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are a mix of FRS 17 and non-FRS 17. This is because for their 2004–05 and 2005–06 budget forms local authorities, after consultation, were given the option to complete their forms either on a non-FRS 17 basis or on an FRS 17 basis. Hence, figures for different years may not be directly comparable.

Neighbourhood Wardens

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what statutory powers community and neighbourhood wardens have to deal with incidents of crime and disorder.

Phil Woolas: Warden schemes may use local authority powers to issue fixed penalty notices for offences such as dog fouling, littering and parking violations. These powers are largely derived from the Environment Protection Act 1990, the Dogs Act 1996, and other local byelaws.
	The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme provides powers to accredited persons, such as wardens. A list of these powers is as follows:
	Powers that may be designated to accredited persons by a chief officer of police:
	Power to require name and address
	Power to deal with begging
	Power to require name and address for antisocial behaviour
	Power to require name and address for road traffic offences
	Power to require persons drinking in designated places to surrender alcohol
	Power to require persons aged under 18 to surrender alcohol
	Power to seize tobacco from a person under 16
	Power to remove abandoned vehicles
	Power to stop vehicles for testing
	Power to stop cycles
	Power to direct traffic for purposes other than escorting an abnormal load
	Power to direct traffic for the purpose of escorting abnormal loads
	Powers to issue fixed penalty notices for:
	Truancy
	Cycling on a footpath
	Graffiti and fly-posting
	Littering
	Power to issue Penalty Notices for Disorder under Chapter 1 Part1 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act:
	Sale of alcohol to a person under 18
	Purchase of alcohol for a person under 18
	Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery
	Breach of fireworks curfew
	Possession of a category 4 firework
	Possession by a person under 18 of an adult firework
	Supply of excessively loud fireworks
	Wasting police time, giving false report
	Using public electronic communications network in order to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety
	Knowingly giving false alarm to a person acting on behalf of a fire and rescue authority
	Causing harassment, alarm or distress
	Throwing fireworks
	Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 or allowing such consumption
	Trespassing on a railway
	Throwing stones at a train
	Drinking in a designated public area.

Peabody Trust

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in the number of the Peabody Trust's social rented homes on (a) homelessness and (b) overcrowding in London.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not carry out analysis of homelessness or overcrowding data in relation to the stock holdings of individual registered social landlords (RSLs). Local authorities have a statutory responsibility for reviewing homelessness and the resources available to tackle it in their area, in consultation with RSLs and other agencies, in order to inform their homelessness strategies.

Race Equality Impact Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Race Equality Impact Assessments his Office completed between (a) April 2004 and March 2005 and (b) April 2005 and November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

Phil Woolas: Between April 2004 and March 2005 eight race equality impact assessments were carried out within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (not including agencies). Between April and November 2005, two full and one partial race impact assessments were completed. No changes in policy occurred as a result of the assessments. In order to assist staff in carrying out these assessments, the Equality and Diversity Unit (EDU) ran a series of 32 workshops, which were attended by several hundred staff members. Guidance on how to complete the assessments has also been placed on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's intranet.
	There are currently three race equality impact assessments under way in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and the ODPM has agreed to conduct a series of 14 assessments across a wide range of the ODPM's existing policy and programme areas as part of an 18-month call-off contract. The contract's aim is both to conduct race equality impact assessments, and to build capacity in ODPM officials to carry them out subsequently.

Regeneration (Oldham)

Michael Meacher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect on the regeneration of the local area of the sale by Legal and General of land at the Alexandra Retail Park in Oldham.

Phil Woolas: The local authority is currently considering the options for the regeneration of the area. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with Oldham MBC to consider the best way forward. We shall be looking at the recently published inspector's report into the revised UDP and taking forward the Under-served Markets Project for which Oldham has been shortlisted.

Standards Board for England

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the work of the Standards Board for England; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) monitors the progress of the Standards Board for England as part of its on-going sponsorship role for the board, and we are also currently considering the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and of the ODPM Select Committee on the board's work.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the valuation of a domestic property by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax valuation or revaluation purposes would be affected by the presence of (a) television aerials, (b) showers, (c) fixtures, (d) fittings and (e) carpets.

Phil Woolas: The statutory assumptions for valuation in respect of Council Tax are contained within Local Government and Finance Act 1992 and Local Government Act 2003.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many public conveniences were registered for business rates by the Valuation Office Agency in each government office region (a) in the most recent year for which figures are available and (b) in 1997.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) As at July 2005, there were 5,377 public conveniences included in the 2005 Rating List.
	
		
			 Government region Number of public conveniences 
		
		
			 Eastern 547 
			 East Midlands 390 
			 London 414 
			 North East 228 
			 North West 489 
			 South East 770 
			 South West 980 
			 West Midlands 409 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 479 
			 Wales 671 
			 Total 5,377 
		
	
	(b) 1997 figures are not available.

TRANSPORT

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce the findings of the South East of England Regional Development Agency's consultation on the proposed A21 upgrade.

Stephen Ladyman: I am not aware of any consultation being undertaken by the South East of England Regional Development Agency specifically into the A21. However, we expect to receive by the end of January 2006 the South East region's advice on which transport schemes should be given priority for funding, as part of the regional funding allocation process. The schemes they are considering as part of this process include several improvements to the A21.

Merseytravel

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Merseytravel's record on project delivery across all forms of public transport.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 1 December 2005
	Irefer the hon. Member to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 146W.

Railways

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's oral statement of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 301WH, if he will meet hon. Members with constituencies in the west country to discuss the night-train and sleeper service between London and Penzance.

Derek Twigg: I have met a number of hon. Members from the west country to discuss the sleeper service between London and Penzance. I would be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss this issue.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Human Rights (Iraq)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Solicitor-General what correspondence the Attorney-General has had with Mr.Phil Shiner regarding human rights cases against British forces in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Mr. Phil Shiner has written to the Attorney-General raising a number of issues concerning British forces in Iraq. The Attorney-General's officials have replied to Mr. Shiner, advising him that if he has any evidence of potential criminal offences he should bring it to the attention of the prosecuting authorities, and that he should direct to the Ministry of Defence other issues he might have about the conduct and training of the armed forces.

SCOTLAND

Civil Service Relocation (Scotland)

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

David Cairns: holding answer 28 November 2005
	Over two-thirds of the posts in the Scotland Office are already based in Scotland; the Office presently has a staff complement of 55, of whom three are based in Glasgow and 34 in Edinburgh. The remainder are based in London: this reflects the needs of the Office.

Race Equality Impact Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Race Equality Impact Assessments his Department completed between (a) April 2004 to March 2005 and (b) April 2005 to November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

David Cairns: No Race Equality Impact Assessments have been undertaken during these periods. The Scotland Office's executive policy responsibilities are limited to the funding and conduct of elections and constitutional matters affecting the devolution settlement. We do not therefore as a matter of routine carry out such assessments.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Alcohol Sales

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many litres of alcoholic drinks have been purchased for sale (a) in bars of the House and (b) by the refreshment department at catering functions on the parliamentary estate in each year since 1975.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's reply on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 874W. I am now able to update that information and confirm that the volume of alcoholic drinks consumed in the bars of the House of Commons was 46,151 litres for the full year to March 2005, and has been 23,886 in the eight months from April 2005 to November 2005. Consumption at functions catered or supplied by the refreshment department was 32,334 litres in 2004–05 and 17,959 litres in the eight months from April 2005 to November 2005.

E-networks

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment the Commission has made of the level of security on the e-networks available to hon. Members and their staff (a) on the parliamentary estate and (b) in constituency offices.

Nick Harvey: It is not the Commission's practice to comment in detail on matters relating to security. The Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) takes the security of the parliamentary network very seriously and uses appropriate tools and techniques in its design and management. These are subject to audit and external assessment. A similar approach is taken to facilities provided by the PCD in constituencies and other locations. The Commission has put in place governance arrangements to ensure these matters are periodically reviewed. This work is led by the Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator.

Portcullis House

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the (a) tree species and (b) country of origin of the wood used in the construction and maintenance of Portcullis House; and in what capacity the wood was used in each case.

Nick Harvey: The courtyard roof of Portcullis House is constructed of American White Oak, which is stronger and grows straighter than English Oak which is not stress graded in terms of strength.
	English Oak was used for all the joinery-cabinets, cupboards, desks etc-as the structure of the grain is more decorative. The majority of English Oak used was from trees that fell during the storms of 1987.

Stationery

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to replace the plastic window in all stationery with environmentally friendly corn paper.

Nick Harvey: The material in the window envelopes is polystyrene. This is used because it is easily recycled and uses less resources in production and produces less solid waste than other materials. The polystyrene windows are compatible with mail sorting machinery, making them efficient as well as environmentally friendly. There are therefore no plans to replace the stationery. Hon. Members may purchase envelopes from outside the standard range and be reimbursed from the Incidental Expenses Provision.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Housing (Immigration)

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the impact of the current level of net immigration on demand for housing.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office works across Government to ensure that immigration policy works to the benefit of the United Kingdom. This has included discussions, both at ministerial and official level, with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dangerous Driving

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to change the law relating to the causing of death by bad driving.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government have tabled amendments to the current Road Safety Bill that take forward a number of proposals arising from the Review of Road Traffic Offences involving Bad Driving consultation exercise.
	These proposals include a new offence of causing death by careless driving; a new offence where an unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured driver causes a fatal accident and provision for alternative verdicts where a manslaughter charge or culpable homicide charge has failed.

Community Support Officers

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change in the number of police community support officers is planned between now and 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There were more than 6,300 police community support officers (PCSOs) in June 2005. We announced on 7 March 2005 plans to increase the number of PCSOs to 24,000 by March 2008.
	We informed forces and police authorities on 7 November 2005 the details of the funding for additional PCSOs in 200607 and 200708. They have been invited to submit their proposals to meet the access criteria by 12 December 2005.

Women Trafficking

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the trafficking of women from eastern Europe.

Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to tackling trafficking in human beings and we are working closely with several eastern European source and transit countries to improve preventative measures and increase prosecutions. The new EU action plan on trafficking, drafted by the UK presidency and adopted last week, includes actions to prevent trafficking from outside and within the EU.

Anti-semitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of offences involving anti-semitism in the last three years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The total number of racially or religiously aggravated offences rose from 31,035 in 200203 to 35,022 in 200304. These figures cannot, however, be broken down by particular race or religion. We will continue to tackle racism and prejudice in all its forms and wherever it occurs.

Police

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he has carried out on proposals to merge Sussex police into a regional force.

Hazel Blears: Police forces and authorities have been asked to undertake consultation with relevant stakeholders in their areas including communities when developing their options for change. This should ensure that selected options reflect the views of as many stakeholders as possible. As part of developing options for change, I requested all forces and authorities including Sussex, to consult with local communities.

Police

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the time it takes beat officers to return to the beat after making an arrest.

Paul Goggins: The use of designated support staff such as detention officers and investigating officers help minimise the time the arresting officer needs to spend at the police station in processing the suspect and investigating the offence. In addition, street bail allows the officer to determine when the arrested person is required to attend the police station to best meet the needs of the investigation, the custody suite and the officer's operational duties.

Police

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) groups have been dispersed and (b) under-16s have been removed to their place of residence by (i) community support officers and (ii) police officers under paragraph 4A of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002 in each of the last four years, broken down by police authority.

Charles Clarke: Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 provides the police with a power to disperse groups and remove under 16s to their place of residence, within designated areas. The Act also inserted paragraph 4A into Schedule four to the Police Reform Act 2002 to allow designated community support officers to use these powers.
	These powers came into force on 20 January 2004. From a Home Office data collection exercise, we estimate that 809 areas were designated between January 2004 and June 2005. Police officers and community support officer dispersed 14,375 people from the 293 areas where data was available. They also removed 520 young people under 16 to their place of residence from 236 areas where data was available. We do not hold the information on whether these powers were exercised by police officers or community support officers.

Sex Crimes (Victim Support)

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to support victims of rape and other sex crimes.

Paul Goggins: Over 200406 we have invested 4 million in the development of Sexual Assault Referral Centres and voluntary services for victims of sexual violence. A further 1.25 million will go to support voluntary sector sexual violence services in 200607. We have also improved the ways in which the police and the Crown Prosecution Service provide support and greater access to justice for victims of sexual violence.

False Vehicle Registration

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of the registration of false vehicle licence addresses on the ability of the police to combat multiple road traffic offences.

Paul Goggins: Vehicles which are registered with incorrect details or not registered at all are regularly used in criminal and antisocial activities. An accurate register is important for identification purposes, so that the police can take effective action against the perpetrators. It is an offence not to supply the relevant details for correct registration, and in the last two years we have strengthened the likelihood of accuracy by the introduction of continuous registration and by creating a new offence of using a vehicle that is incorrectly registered.

Community Courts

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in establishing community courts; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are currently two Community Justice projectsthe pilot Community Justice Centre, North Liverpool which was formally opened last month and the Salford Community Justice Initiative to be launched next week. It is early days for Community Justice in this country and these are both groundbreaking projects that will be fully evaluated.

Acceptable Behaviour Rules

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals are being held for breaching acceptable behaviour rules and are awaiting deportation to countries where he believes they could face, without appropriate memoranda of understanding being in place, a risk of torture, broken down by nationality.

Tony McNulty: No individuals are currently being held awaiting deportation on grounds of unacceptable behaviour.
	However, 20 people are in detention pending deportation for reasons of national security. Their eventual deportation is subject to the negotiation of memorandums of understandings (MoUs) which cover various issues regarding return to country of origin.

Asset Recovery Agency

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the Asset Recovery Agency will have in recovering the assets of foreign politically exposed persons which have been derived from corrupt activities or theft of state assets.

Paul Goggins: The Assets Recovery Agency operates the civil schemes of recovering assets, namely civil recovery and taxation. In domestic cases, they take cases on referral from law enforcement where they are satisfied that a criminal conviction of a person followed by a confiscation order is not appropriate or has failed.
	The cases referred to them might include those involving politically exposed persons. In international co-operation cases, they will have powers to enforce overseas civil forfeiture orders over assets in the UK.

Asylum/Immigration

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families subject to the pilot implementation of section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 have had their support re-instated by the National Asylum Support Service as a result of the identification of a potential human rights breach.

Tony McNulty: Under the section 9 pilot, support is only withdrawn where a family has refused, without reasonable excuse, to take steps to return home. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) only withdraw the family's support when this can be done without breaching any person's human rights. However, after support has been withdrawn, a family's circumstances can change in such a way that support needs to be reinstated to avoid a breach. This has happened in three cases.

Asylum/Immigration

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will review the regulation that prevents asylum seekers from securing employment in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of allowing asylum seekers to take paid work in the UK.

Tony McNulty: The Government keep their immigration and asylum policies under review. Our current assessment is that it would not be right to routinely allow asylum seekers access to paid employment. The immigration rules make clear that asylum seekers may seek permission to work if their claim for asylum remains outstanding for longer than 12months without an initial decision being made on it and providing the reason for the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant.
	We do encourage asylum seekers to undertake voluntary work while their claim for asylum is being assessed.

Asylum/Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK between 1 July and 30 September; and how many were removed in the equivalent period in 2004.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of failed asylum seekers removed from the UK is published quarterly in the Asylum Bulletin.
	The quarterly Asylum Bulletin relating to the third quarter of 2005, contains the number of failed asylum seekers removed between 1 July and 30 September 2005, and that in the equivalent period in 2004.
	This publication is available from the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants living in the UK.

Tony McNulty: Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally, the Home Office published a report which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. A copy of the RDS On-line report 29/05 Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries. html#rdsolr2905.

Asylum/Immigration

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average time appellants whose appeal against the decision to remove them from the United Kingdom had been allowed waited between the date that their appeal was allowed and grant of leave to remain, in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: Information on allowed appeals is not currently available.

Asylum/Immigration

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of hon. Members' correspondence to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate was answered within 20 working days for the periods (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The proportion of Members' correspondence answered by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate within 20 working days was: 28 per cent. for the period January to March; 49 per cent. for April to June; and 64 per cent. for July to September.
	This improvement is encouraging but I am determined that it should be maintained until we reach the published target of replying to 95 per cent. of Members' letters within 20 days.
	
		Year to date IND performance: 1 January to 31 October 2005
		
			  Overall IND performance Overall IND performance (excluding enforcement and removals) 
			 Correspondence type Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) 
		
		
			 Ministerial 12,491 7,041 56 7,988 5,233 66 
			 Official reply 21,688 9,951 46 12,762 7,896 62 
			 Combined 34,179 16,992 50 20,750 13,129 63 
		
	
	
		IND performance: 1 January to 31 March 2005
		
			  Overall IND performance Overall IND performance (excluding enforcement and removals) 
			 Correspondence type Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) 
		
		
			 Ministerial 3,722 1,067 28 2,554 754 29 
			 Official reply 6,533 1,776 27 4,155 1,527 37 
			 Combined 10,255 2,843 28 6,709 2,281 34 
		
	
	
		IND performance: 1 April to 30 June 2005
		
			  Overall IND performance Overall IND performance (excluding enforcement and removals) 
			 Correspondence type Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) 
		
		
			 Ministerial 3,290 1,903 58 2,049 1,404 69 
			 Official reply 5,582 2,406 43 3,295 2,029 62 
			 Combined 8,872 4,309 49 5,344 3,433 64 
		
	
	
		IND performance: 1 July to 30 September 2005
		
			  Overall IND performance Overall IND performance (excluding enforcement and removals) 
			 Correspondence type Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) Total received Total replied to within 20 days Performance (percentage) 
		
		
			 Ministerial 4,149 3,072 74 2,552 2,300 90 
			 Official reply 7,252 4,172 57 4,024 3,152 78 
			 Combined 11,401 7,244 64 6,576 5,452 83

Asylum/Immigration

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average escorting contractprice was for inter-detention estate transfers of immigration detainees in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The contract price for in country escorts is inclusive and covers all required escort movements for immigration detainees including inter-detention estate transfers.
	Under the existing contract arrangement the average price of an escorted movement is 119.50.

Asylum/Immigration

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent immigration rules allow for the entry of foreign children to the United Kingdom for the purpose of fostering by (a) relatives and (b) non-relatives.

Tony McNulty: There is no provision in the immigration rules to allow a child to enter or remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of a private fostering arrangement. It is open for a child who is the subject of a private fostering agreement to enter the United Kingdom under other provisions of the immigration rules, for example under the various adoption provisions, where they can meet the requirements.

Asylum/Immigration

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken by immigration caseworkers to (a) monitor the welfare of foreign children who are fostered in the United Kingdom and (b) intervene where necessary.

Tony McNulty: Whilst a child cannot enter or remain solely on the basis of a private fostering arrangement, where children who are in the United Kingdom under another provision of the immigration rules and are covered by the definition of a privately fostered child in the Children Act 1989, the carer must advise their local authority social services of the child's presence. The local authority then has duties in respect of the child, including regular visits, so long as the arrangement lasts. The duty of care of a child lies with the relevant social services department. Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) staff are instructed to contact the local social services where they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

Breath Tests

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers received a positive breath test in the Easington constituency in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Information on positive/refused screening breath tests is collected centrally at police force area level only. Data for 2004 will be published early in 2006.

Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department spent on (a) organising and (b) sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: Total costs incurred by the Department in respect of conferences for each of the last five years are given in the table.
	
		
			  Total conference costs 
		
		
			 2000 1,322,102.20 
			 2001 2,170,463.31 
			 2002 3,550,268.99 
			 2003 4,958,414.59 
			 2004 5,189,640.56

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of public correspondence to his Department was answered within 20 working days in the period (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The Department monitors centrally received correspondence from the public except that relating to immigration, (a) In the period January to March, 84 per cent. of the 6,777 letters and e-mails received from the public were answered within 20 working days. (b) In the period April to June, 89 per cent. of the 5,898 letters and e-mails received from the public were answered within 20 working days. (c) In the period July to September, 92 per cent. of the 7,222 letters and e-mails received from the public were answered within 20 working days.

Council Tax Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current maximum fine levied by the magistrates court is for intentionally delaying or obstructing a Valuation Office Agency representative, who is conducting a council tax valuation inspection.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brent East (Sarah Teather) on 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2066W.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions have taken place and (b) orders have been made under section 14 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Paul Goggins: Information on prosecutions and convictions under section 14 of the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000 is not available as this section was commenced in England on 19 September 2004 and in Wales on 28 May 2005. There were no prosecutions under the Act in 2004. Data for court proceedings for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.

Custodial Sentences (Women)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are in prison; and how many and what proportion of women in prison have children under (a) five and (b) 11 years of age for the most recent available date.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 24 November 2005
	As at 30 September 2005, there were 4,611 females in custody, 1,012 on remand, 3,539 sentenced and 60 non-criminal. There is no routinely collected data on the number of females in prison who are mothers but Home Office Research Study 208 found that 66 per cent. had dependent children under the age of 18. Of those with children, 34 per cent. had pre-school children aged under five and a further 40 per cent. had children aged from five to 10.

Cyclamen Programme

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Cyclamen programme; what resources have been transferred from HM Revenue and Customs in connection with this programme; and for what purpose.

Charles Clarke: Programme Cyclamen is now operational at several ports and airports and remains on course to be completed by 31 March 2007. HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) on-going anti-smuggling activities have been expanded to include programme Cyclamen.
	This has meant the employment of an additional 320 HMRC staff. Funding has been provided for the programme and this is managed jointly by HMRC and the Home Office.

Departmental Estate

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the maintenance of the Home Office's Marsham Street office (a) gardens and (b) water features since relocation.

Charles Clarke: This is the responsibility of the facilities sub-contractor to Annes Gate Property plc the PFI Service Provider. AGP are unable to confirm theprecise amount that has been spent on maintenance of the gardens and water feature by the sub-contractor but as a guide have indicated it is probably in the region of 40,000 since 26 January 2005.

Departmental Estate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list parliamentary constituencies in which his Department (a) owns and (b) rents (i) land and (ii) property; what the land or property is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: This information is not held by reference to parliamentary constituency boundaries and could be researched only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Policies

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Gateshead East and Washington West constituency, the effects in Gateshead East and Washington West of changes to his Department's policies since 1997.

Charles Clarke: The Government has put in place policies in the areas of crime reduction, antisocial behaviour, policing and active communities that are yielding considerable benefits for the constituency.
	Between March 1997 and March 2005 the number of police officers in the Northumbria Police Force increased by 411 from 3,677 to 4,088. The Government's introduction of community support officers (CSOs) in 2002 has put 104 CSOs on Northumbria's streets to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
	Northumbria Police will receive 232.2 million in general grants for 200506, an increase of 4.87 per cent. (10.81 million) over last year. General grants funding to Northumbria has increased by 33.7 per cent. between 199798 and 200506. In addition to general grants, Northumbria will also receive around 20.36 million in specific grants funding for targeted initiatives and capital provision in 200506. The distribution of resources locally is a matter for the police authority and the chief constable.
	The Crime Reduction Programme (CRP) was a 340 million intervention programme running for three years from April 1999. Figures are not available for constituency or local level. In Gateshead a total of 14 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been issued and in Sunderland a total of 29 ASBOs have been issued as of 31 March 2005. (The latest figures available).
	
		
		
			 Scheme/area 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Small retailers in deprived areas  
			 Gateshead CDRP 27,845 24,000 24,000   
			 Sunderland CDRP 35,856 35,000 35,000   
			   
			 Communities against drugs  
			 Gateshead CDRP 189,400 189,400
			 Sunderland CDRP 278,600 278,600
			   
			 Safer communities initiative  
			 Gateshead CDRP  72,362
			 Sunderland CDRP  102,884
			   
			 Building safer communities fund(21)  
			 Gateshead CDRP   269,920 276,668 276,668 
			 Sunderland CDRP   393,444 403,280 403,280 
			   
			 Basic command unit fund(22)  
			 Gateshead West   87,784 87,784 87,784 
			 Gateshead East   127,177 127,177 127,177 
			 Sunderland City   154,546 154,546 154,546 
			 Sunderland West   83,776 83,776 83,776 
			   
			 Partnership development fund(23)  
			 North East Region (24)1.235 (24)1.13
			   
			 Home Office regional directors' allocation (HORDs)3   
			 North East Region   724,900 724,900 724,900 
		
	
	(21)In the years 200405 and 200506 the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships received an additional 25,000 for ASB coordinator.
	(22)Figures for constituency level.
	(23)Figures for NE Region, not available for CDRP or constituency.
	(24)Million.
	
		Table 1: number of offences recorded1997(25)
		
			  1997 
		
		
			 Gateshead CDRP:  
			 Domestic burglary n/a 
			 Theft of a vehicle n/a 
			 Theft from a vehicle n/a 
			   
			 Sunderland CDRP:  
			 Domestic burglary n/a 
			 Theft of a vehicle n/a 
			 Theft from a vehicle n/a 
			   
			 Northumbria police force:  
			 Domestic burglary 17,113 
			 Theft of a vehicle 13,703 
			 Theft from a vehicle 18,635 
		
	
	(25)The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: number of offences recorded199899 to 200102(26)
		
			  199899(27) 19992000(28) 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Gateshead CDRP: 
			 Domestic burglary n/a 1,945 1,705 1,946 
			 Theft of a vehicle n/a 1,952 1,703 1,375 
			 Theft from a vehicle n/a 2,743 2,766 2,239 
			  
			 Sunderland CDRP: 
			 Domestic burglary n/a 3,311 3,017 2,982 
			 Theft of a vehicle n/a 3,503 2,671 2,593 
			 Theft from a vehicle n/a 4,030 3,023 3,362 
			  
			 Northumbria police force:   
			 Domestic burglary 15,334 12,539 11,381 11,250 
			 Theft of a vehicle 12,498 10,395 8,693 7,837 
			 Theft from a vehicle 16,918 15,804 13,662 12,571 
		
	
	(26)The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	(27)The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 199899. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997.
	(28)Recorded crime figures for CDRPs were collected for the first time for the 12 months to March 2000.
	
		Table 3: number of offences recorded200203 to 200405
		
			 Offence 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Gateshead CDRP:
			 Domestic burglary 1,685 1,733 996 
			 Theft of a vehicle 1,158 1,029 754 
			 Theft from a vehicle 1,996 1,881 1,723 
			 
			 Sunderland CDRP:
			 Domestic burglary 2,962 2,369 1,910 
			 Theft of a vehicle 2,128 1,941 1,496 
			 Theft from a vehicle 3,472 2,661 2,126 
			 
			 Northumbria police force:
			 Domestic burglary 11,179 10,223 7,897 
			 Theft of a vehicle 6,981 6,445 5,189 
			 Theft from a vehicle 13,283 11,644 10,836 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish details of the drug harm index required for the measurement of performance against 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 4.

Charles Clarke: Details of the Drug Harm Index and PSA baseline figure were published by the Home Office in March 2005 and can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2405.pdf

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish an assessment of progress against 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 7.

Charles Clarke: Performance against the element of Public Service Agreement (PSA) seven covering perceptions of racial discrimination by organisations and in the labour market was published on 24 November in a research publication on the Home Office website. Performance against PSA seven will also be included in the Home Office Autumn Performance Report to be published in December.
	This will be a Command Paper and available on the Home Office website. The baseline for the community cohesion element of PSA seven is 2005, so an assessment of progress will not be available for this element until 2007, when the next survey is carried out.

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the first Voluntary and Community Activity Index data to be published, as required by 2004 Public Service Agreement number 6.

Charles Clarke: The State of the Sector Panel was introduced in the SR02 Public Service Agreement (PSA) set to measure progress against the then PSA8. The 200203 Baseline was published in the Home Office Targets Autumn Performance Report 2004 Cm 6423 published in December 2004 and this is available on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ho-targets-autumn-report-04?version=1

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of asylum cases that go to appeal on performance against 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 5.

Charles Clarke: For PSA five the target is defined in the Public Service Agreement (PSA) technical notes (which can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/psa-technical-note-SR04-jul-05) as reducing the number of cases that are unfounded.
	An unfounded asylum claim is one where the applicant and dependents of the applicant have not been granted full refugee status (indefinite leave to remain) under the 1951 UN Convention, i.e. failed asylum seekers (applicants refused refugee status at the initial decision stage for which no appeal is received, and applicants whose appeal rights are exhausted).
	Asylum cases that go to appeal and are unsuccessful therefore are included in the measurement of the target. As the technical notes indicate, performance data, for the year as a whole, will be published in the asylum statistics, on the Home Office website, as soon as possible after the end of the financial year (once the data is judged sufficiently reliable).The latest available data will also be published in the Home Office Autumn Performance Report this December. This will be a Command Paper and available on the Home Office website.

Development Plus Programme

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, what positive action development is expected to be provided for staff by his Department's Development Plus programme for under-represented groups.

Charles Clarke: The Development Plus programme is a positive action learning and development programme for female, minority ethnic and disabled staff across the Home Office, at the levels where there is under-representation. The aim of the programme is to enable participants to increase their skills, address the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential and to help them compete more effectively for promotion. This will enable all staff to progress on merit.

DNA Database

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what percentage of the population of London the police hold a record on their DNA database, broken down by (a) black, (b) ethnic minority and (c) white people.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 25 November 2005
	The information requested is not currently available. The data held by the National DNA Database (NDNAD) are not directly comparable with the census 2001 population data.
	The NDNAD does not hold self-reported ethnicity data on arrested persons who have a DNA sample taken, but on their 'ethnic appearance'. Nor does it hold data on sampled persons by area of residence, but by the police force area where the person was arrested and their DNA sample was taken; this may not be the area where they reside.
	The sampling police officer completes a form with the sampled person's name, sex, date of birth, ethnic appearance and sampling force details. The ethnic appearance data is based on the judgment of the police officer and is recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification. It uses seven broad ethnic categories whereas the Office for National Statistics population data from census 2001 is based on 16 ethnic groups self-reported by individuals when completing the census return.

Domestic Violence

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is available in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) Normanton constituency to deal with domestic violence.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table outlines the provisions that exist in each of the five areas within West Yorkshire, including Normanton to deal with domestic violence. The provisions cover both statutory and voluntary sector agencies and range from the police, domestic violence co-ordinators, refuge accommodation, outreach work and specialist support services for victims and children, as well as perpetrator programmes.
	
		Domestic violence services for West Yorkshire
		
			 Area Provisions 
		
		
			 Bradford Domestic abuse co-ordinator, monitoring officer and training co-ordinator 
			  Eight refuge accommodation facilities for women and children, including refuge for BME victims 
			  Nine outreach and support services , which includes a one-stop shop 
			  Two children's support services 
			  Three perpetrator programmes, including mandatory probation service programme. 
			  Three units covering police force areas and an Asian family liaison officer 
			   
			 Calderdale Domestic violence co-ordinator 
			  Two refuge accommodation facilities for women and children, including refuge for BME victims 
			  Calderdale women's centre, which includes a helpline, support workers, legal caseworker, children's services, BME support services and housing support. 
			  Victim support for male and female victims of domestic violence. 
			  Police domestic violence unit 
			   
			 Kirklees Domestic violence co-ordinator 
			  Four refuge accommodation facilities for women and children, including specialist support for BME victims 
			  Outreach and support and advice services for all victims of domestic violence. 
			  Domestic violence training for professionals 
			  Witness support group 
			  Mandatory probation service perpetrator programme and voluntary programme 
			  Police domestic violent unit 
			   
			 Leeds Domestic violence co-ordinator 
			  Women's aid refuge accommodation facilities and Sahara black women's refuge 
			  Outreach workers within two hospitals and support for victims, including preventative action on homelessness and specialist support for BME victims 
			  HALT domestic violence service, providing support for women through civil and criminal justice system 
			  Domestic violence training for professionals 
			  Four police domestic violence units 
			  Voluntary perpetrator programmes 
			  Specialist domestic violence court-clusters 
			 Wakefield(29) Domestic violence co-ordinator 
			  Refuge accommodation facilities for women and children 
			  Two projects offering support to women and children affected by domestic violence; intercept project (also runs a perpetrator programme) and the wellwoman centre. 
			  Domestic violence training for professionals and an education pack for schools 
			  Police domestic violence unit 
		
	
	(29)The provisions are district wide and cover Normanton.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been subject to a drug treatment and testing order in each month since their inception; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) made in each month since the roll-out of the order across England and Wales in October 2000 up to September 2005 is shown in the table. The DTTO has gradually been replaced by the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) of the community order from April 2005. A column showing the number of DRRs made up to September 2005 is included in the table.
	
		
			 Month Number of DTTOs made Number of DRRs made 
		
		
			 2000   
			 October 51  
			 November 110  
			 December 170  
			 2001   
			 January 233  
			 February 303  
			 March 379  
			 April 362  
			 May 396  
			 June 402  
			 July 424  
			 August 389  
			 September 329  
			 October 419  
			 November 437  
			 December 373  
			 2002   
			 January 425  
			 February 441  
			 March 457  
			 April 500  
			 May 557j  
			 June 413  
			 July 513  
			 August 487  
			 September 482  
			 October 466  
			 November 551  
			 December 452  
			 2003   
			 January 541  
			 February 562  
			 March 621  
			 April 607  
			 May 609  
			 June 659  
			 July 748  
			 August 665  
			 September 695  
			 October 774  
			 November 697  
			 December 713  
			 2004   
			 January 673  
			 February 762  
			 March 917  
			 April 809  
			 May 769  
			 June 818  
			 July 815  
			 August 817  
			 September 852  
			 October 899  
			 November 966  
			 December 842  
			 2005   
			 January 867  
			 February 891  
			 March 978  
			 April 951 43 
			 May 730 250 
			 June 627 522 
			 July 468 596 
			 August 343 702 
			 September 292 843 
			 Total 34,498 2,956

Dungavel Detention Centre

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the situation in Dungavel detention centre.

Fiona Mactaggart: Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre was opened in September 2001 and holds those who have been detained under Immigration Act powers. The centre holds single males and females as well as families, including those with children. Families with children are not normally held at Dungavel beyond 72 hours. The centre is currently operating normally and there is no situation to report.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all (a) copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Charles Clarke: The quick wins targets were introduced on 1 November 2003 by the inter-departmental Sustainable Procurement Group. From this date all government departments' contracts were expected to apply the minimum environmental standards when purchasing certain types of product and services including paper.
	It has been recommended that the purchase of recycled paper products is phased in over a period of time and targets will be developed as part of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The Home Office will work with its current suppliers in order to meet these targets. The department's current three-year stationery contract to supply paper and paper products as well as other stationery products was awarded prior to 1 November, in September 2003. This followed a competitive tender exercise in line with Home Office policy that the procurement of goods and services is based on value for money principles. The provision of recycled paper is part of the agreed contract with Office depot.
	In June 2002 the Home Office mandated all offices within the Department to use A4 recycled paper which has an 80 per cent. unspecified recycled paper content in photocopiers, fax machines and printers, unless technical reasons precluded them from using this paper. The Prison Service mandated the use of the same A4 recycled paper from September 2003 and following successful trials are also procuring only A3 recycled paper.
	The Home Office makes use of various stocks of paper/board in our publications. Most of our internal facing material is printed on recycled paper and all of these are at least 60 per cent. recycled with a content of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. The majority of our external facing work is printed on totally chlorine free paper/board. Although this is not made from recycled pulp, this is 'environmentally friendly' because the pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine chemicals.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of the bids made for contracts awarded by his Department; who makes such an assessment; and whether these assessments are published.

Charles Clarke: The Home Department does not hold this information centrally and it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Advice on the opportunities for integrating environmental and sustainability issues in assessment during procurement is published in OGC/DEFRA guidance Environmental Issues in Purchasing (www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?id=400'). Additional Home Office internal advice has been issued for use by procurement and project teams via procurement bulletins. Where appropriate assessments against both environmental impact and sustainable development criteria for bids made for contracts are carried out on a case by case basis. Environmental impact assessments and criteria for sustainable development are set and evaluated by the project team. These assessments are not published.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, how many members of staff (a) are estimated to have to have taken part in Diversity Week events in each of the past three years and (b) in (i)his Department, (ii) the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and (iii) the Prison Service attended compulsory diversity awareness training in 2005.

Charles Clarke: The figures are as follows:
	For the Diversity Week the Core Home Office attendance in 2005 was approximately 360. No records were kept for 200304. For the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in 2005approximately 1,950, 2004approximately 1,680 and 2003approximately 960. For Prison Service from 200305, Diversity Week was celebrated in a number of prison establishments, where events were attended by prison staff and prisoners. No records of the numbers of prison staff or prisoners involved were kept.
	The Diversity Awareness training attendance up to November 2005 has been Core Home Office 663, IND 4920, Prison Serviceapproximately 9,820.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W on equality and diversity, how much was spent on (a) compulsory diversity training in 2005, (b) launching the Development Plus programme, (c) testing for inappropriate behaviour during the 2005 senior management exercises, (d) Diversity week in each of the last three years and (e) networks supporting (i) black and ethnic minority, (ii) disabled, (iii) lesbian, gay and bisexual and (iv) transgendered and transsexual members of staff in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is as follows:
	
		(a) Expenditure on compulsory diversity training in 2005
		
			   
		
		
			 Core Home Office 198,871 
			 IND 608,200 
			 Prison Service (30) 
		
	
	(30)This information is not centrally collected.
	(b) No money was spent on launching the Development Plus programme.
	(c) Testing for inappropriate behaviour during the 2005 senior management assessment centres12,915.
	
		(d) Cost of Diversity week
		
			   
		
		
			 Core Home Office  
			 2005 8,489 
			 2004 5,668 
			 2003 2,686 
			   
			 IND  
			 2005 22,000 
			 2004 5,000 
			 2003 3,000 
			 Prison Service  
			 200405 (31) 
			 2003 (32)33,593 
		
	
	(31)No records were kept.
	(32)This covered events in central London and prison establishments. Staff from the Core Home Office and IND were also invited to attend.
	(e) The Core Home Office funds three staff support networks: The Network (set up in 1999) which supports black and ethnic minority staff; HODS (set up in 2002) which supports disabled staff; and, SPECTRUM (set up in 2003) which supports lesbian, gay bisexual and transsexual and transgender staff. Details of the networks' expenditure since their formation is shown as follows:
	
		Staff support networks expenditure -- 000
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 The Network 275 420 291 418 476 
			 HODS62 192 
			 SPECTRUM14 99 
		
	
	The Prison Service RESECT staff support network for black and minority ethnic staff received 400,000, 453,000 and 394,000 in financial years 200203, 200304, 200405 respectively. The Prison Service GALIPS staff support network (established in July 2004) for lesbian, gay bisexual and transsexual and transgender staff received 145,000 of funding in financial years 200405 and 200506.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, how many (a) black and ethnic minority, (b) disabled, (c) lesbian, gay, bisexual and (d) transgendered and transsexual staff have been employed by (i) his Department, (ii) the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, (iii) HM Prison Service and (iv) the UK Passport Service in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The following figures are taken from the Cabinet Office Mandate return for April in each of the years between 2000 and 2004. Data for years prior to 2000 are not readily available and data for 2005 have not yet been published.
	The Home Office has not yet started to monitor the number of its staff by sexual orientation or gender identity, although we have recently introduced monitoring of our HR processes, including recruitment, promotion and training, against those diversity strands.
	
		
			  Home Office main (inc IND) UK Passport Service HM Prison Service 
			  Minority ethnic staff Disabled staff Minority ethnic staff Disabled staff Minority ethnic staff Disabled staff 
		
		
			 2000 1,110 290 110 40 1,220 130 
			 2001 1,410 340 360 70 1,530 310 
			 2002 1,010 370 480 150 1,340 480 
			 2003 2,230 420 430 130 1,780 470 
			 2004 3,080 460 450 130 2,110 500

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, what (a) funding and (b) other support was made available for the support of staff on the Cabinet Office Pathways scheme for ethnic minorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The following table shows funding the Home Office has provided for participants on the last three Cabinet Office Pathways development schemes for which we have financial data. These are two-year schemes for talented black and ethnic minority civil servants who show potential to reach the level of the senior civil service.
	
		(a)
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200204 42 
			 200305 74 
			 200406 100 
		
	
	(b) In addition to providing funding, the Home Office in liaison with the Cabinet Office, supported staff participation on the Pathways schemes by providing mentors and obtaining work placements outside the Home Office.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, how much his Department spent on positive action training for (a) women, (b) black and minority ethnic staff and (c) disabled staff in 2001; how many members of staff attended this training; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (i)positive action training in 2001 and (ii) diversity awareness training in 200001.

Charles Clarke: The cost of positive action training in 200102 was approximately 60,000. This included research, design, development, course delivery and evaluation.
	52 women, black and ethnic minority staff and disabled staff attended the programme.
	The aim of positive action training was to increase the confidence and skills of under-represented groups to compete successfully for posts at the next level. Evaluation of feedback from 34 attendees 12 months on found that 12 had already been promoted and the majority had grown in confidence.
	As part of a review of the diversity awareness training in 200001, 107 managers completed questionnaires and 96.2 per cent. agreed that as a result of attending the training they had a better understanding of the relevance and importance of diversity in effective team working.

Extradition

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK requests all related evidence from the relevant country as a matter of policy when an extradition request is received.

Andy Burnham: No, the UK does not and to the best of our knowledge has never, as a matter of either policy or law, requested all the available evidence when it receives an extradition request. This is consistent with our international obligations and our domestic law.

Female Prisoners (Literacy)

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is planning to have with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about improving the literacy of female prisoners.

Fiona Mactaggart: I discuss matters relating to learning and skills for all offenders on a regular basis with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. Recently our discussions have focused on the matters to be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment, which will include material relating to the needs of female offenders delivered through our new Offender Learning and Skills Service.

Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department took to celebrate and promote the events of (a) Ramadan, (b) Diwali and (c) Chinese New Year in 2005.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office hosted an Eid/Diwali celebration on 14 November 2005 which was attended by 200 guests from the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities as well as representatives from other faith groups. An internal staff event was held on 8 November. The Home Office also made staff aware of a number of external events including the Civil Service Islamic Society event for all civil servants Dusk til Dawn on 10 October and the Greater London Authority (GLA) Chinese New Year event held in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Soho held on 13 February as well as other London China events during this period. Information on the celebrations of Ramadan and Diwali was also circulated to staff within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Firearm Offences

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms offences were recorded in each year since 1997 in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England; and how many led to convictions.

Hazel Blears: The number of offences involving firearms, excluding air weapons, recorded by police is given in the table.
	Convictions data for these offences are not collected centrally.
	
		Number of offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) recorded by police, 1997 to 200102
		
			  Northamptonshire England 
		
		
			 1997 40 4,819 
			 199798 46 4,808 
			 199899(33) 54 5,109 
			 19992000 48 6,749 
			 200001 40 7,360 
			 200102(34) 55 9,917 
		
	
	(33)There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998.
	2Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of national implementation.
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures after this date are not directly comparable.
	
		Number of offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) recorded by police, 200203 and 200304
		
			  Northamptonshire England 
		
		
			 200203 107 10,087 
			 200304 123 10,169 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before this date are not directly comparable.

Fixed-penalty Notices

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed-penalty notices have been issued by (a) community support officers and (b) police officers for littering under paragraph 1(2)(d) of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002 in each of the last four years, broken down by police authority.

Charles Clarke: From 1 November 2004 littering became an offence for which a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) could be issued. The following table gives figures for the number of penalty notices issued for littering in 2004 by each police force, alongside provisional figures for January to July 2005.
	Community support officers have the power to issue fixed-penalty notices for littering on behalf of local authorities. Information on these fixed-penalty notices is held by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	
		Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for littering by police force area, England and Wales, 2004 and January to July 2005(34)
		
			 Police force area 2004(35) January to July 2005(34) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  3 
			 Bedfordshire   
			 Cambridgeshire 2 2 
			 Cheshire  3 
			 City of London   
			 Cleveland  1 
			 Cumbria   
			 Derbyshire 1 4 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 16 
			 Dorset  3 
			 Durham   
			 Essex 3 19 
			 Gloucestershire   
			 Greater Manchester 1 6 
			 Hampshire 7 18 
			 Hertfordshire  0 
			 Humberside 2 4 
			 Kent 1 7 
			 Lancashire 5 41 
			 Leicestershire  6 
			 Lincolnshire  5 
			 Merseyside 3 85 
			 Metropolitan 7 33 
			 Norfolk   
			 North Yorkshire   
			 Northamptonshire  7 
			 Northumbria 2 14 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 11 
			 South Yorkshire 3 19 
			 Staffordshire 1 5 
			 Suffolk  2 
			 Surrey   
			 Sussex   
			 Thames Valley 1 9 
			 Warwickshire 1 5 
			 West Mercia  5 
			 West Midlands  7 
			 West Yorkshire 3 14 
			 Wiltshire  1 
			
			 Dyfed Powys  3 
			 Gwent  1 
			 North Wales 3 21 
			 South Wales   
			
			 England and Wales 51 380 
		
	
	(34)Provisional data.
	(35)Littering was introduced as a PND offence in November 2004.
	Source:
	RDSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Gershon Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who in the Department has been made responsible for achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon Review.

Charles Clarke: I am responsible for achieving my Department's value for money objectives. The permanent secretary is responsible for this work at official level.

Green Ministers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in an official capacity in that role; and what meetings that Minister has attended in the last 12 months.

Charles Clarke: Following the general election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G)) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers. Andy Burnham was appointed as our departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005.
	In July, the Minister attended a breakfast seminar for Sustainable Development Ministers to discuss the sustainable development strategy and Ministers' role in delivering it. He has also held met with officials to discuss the Department's contribution to sustainable development.

Identity Cards

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the identity cards scheme in helping to tackle online fraud.

Andy Burnham: Through the use of remote authentication technologies, there is an opportunity for the identity card scheme to combat online fraud. Currently , the identity cards programme is looking at various alternatives that allow the implementation of secure remote authentication including use of one-time password technology. These technologies offer a mechanism to obtain greater assurance of the identity of individuals during internet transactions.
	Work is continuing with representative groups from both private and public sectors to assess how these technologies might be used to supplement existing procedures in practice. However, no final decisions regarding these options have been taken. As a result, no quantifiable benefits connected with online fraud have, as yet, been claimed with the scheme's benefits case.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely effects of identity cards on card-not-present (a) credit card fraud in (i) on-line, (ii) telephone and (iii) mail order shopping and (b) internet banking fraud.

Andy Burnham: Through the use of remote authentication technologies, there is an opportunity for the identity card scheme to combat fraudulent card-not-present financial transactions. Currently, the identity cards programme is looking at various alternatives that allow the implementation of secure remote authentication including use of one-time password technology. These technologies offer a mechanism to obtain greater assurance of the identity of credit card or account holders when conducting transactions over the internet, telephone or post in the future.
	Work is continuing with representative groups from both private and public sectors to assess how these technologies might be used to supplement existing procedures in practice. However, no final decisions regarding these options have been taken. As a result, no quantifiable benefits connected with reducing card-not-present fraud for online, telephone or mail-order shopping or banking have, as yet, been claimed within the scheme's benefits case to date.

IMPACT System

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the IMPACT system will be operational; and what assessment he has made of progress towards the target date of March 2007.

Charles Clarke: The Government's Second Progress Report on implementing Sir Michael Richard's recommendations was released to Parliament on 7 November 2005. The IMPACT programme, set up to deliver many of the key recommendations, will deliver incremental improvements in police information management and information sharing systems over the next five years.
	The first application, a national index of names (the IMPACT Nominal Index) will be deployed into a Child Abuse Investigation Unit in every force in England and Wales by the end of 2005. This will enable police forces to check where information is held on individuals by other forces.
	The next phase of development will provide police forces with a direct national link between their six core systems, including intelligence, by the end of 2007.

Internet (Voice Calls)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the (a) police and (b) intelligence agencies are able (i) to intercept and (ii)to collect traffic data on voice calls made over the internet.

Charles Clarke: The lawful basis for both intercepting and accessing traffic data on internet calls is contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which is designed to be technology neutral. We do not comment on specific capability, or lack of capability, in these areas, where to do so would undermine national security and the prevention and detection of crime.

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) staffing level and (b) cost of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has been in each calendar year since its inception.

Charles Clarke: The Investigatory Powers Tribunal was established on 2 October 2000. The tribunal's staff in post in each calendar year since then has been:
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 President 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Vice President 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Registrar n/a 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Members 6 7 7 7 7 6 
			 Tribunal office administration staff 2 3 3 3 3 3 
		
	
	The running costs of the tribunal in each financial year since its inception have been:
	
		
		
			  Running costs 
		
		
			 200001 55,470 
			 200102 86,620 
			 200203 114,540 
			 200304 104,440 
			 200405 173,280

Local Authority Secure Units

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the re-offending rates of those released from local authority secure units.

Fiona Mactaggart: These re-offending rates are not available. The following table shows reconviction rates, a commonly used proxy for re-offending rates, for juveniles released from custody. Local authority secure children's homes and secure training centres are included in the reconviction rate, but these cannot be distinguished from other juvenile custodial disposals.
	Owing to the administrative costs of matching criminal histories, the results shown relate to the reconvictions for samples of offenders, those juveniles discharged in the first three months of the year. Reconviction rates should be used with caution as a number of different factors can influence them. Reconviction rates can be adjusted to take account of the changing characteristics of offenders and these adjusted rates are published annually on the Home Office's website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm). The most recent adjusted figures for the 2003 cohort show a reduction in reoffending of 2.4 per cent. against the 2000 baseline.
	
		Reconviction ratesjuvenile offenders, within one year of completing custodial sentence
		
			  Reconviction rate 
		
		
			 2003 69.4 
			 2002 68.3 
			 2001 70.4

Magistrates Courts

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people appearing before each magistrates court were remanded to custody in each year from 2002 to 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: The table shows the numbers and percentages of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales who were remanded in custody by magistrates courts, for the years 2002 to 2004.
	The remand data received by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is often incomplete and custodial remands are believed to be under-recorded. The figures felt to be most the most unreliable are not presented in the table. Due to the poor quality of the data we are unable to present figures for the individual magistrates courts. Figures for 2005 will be available in the autumn of 2006.
	
		Numbers and percentages of defendants remanded in custody by magistrates courts in each police force area 200204England and Wales -- Defendants and percentages
		
			  2002 2003 
			  Remanded in custody(36) Prosecutions Remanded in custody as a percentage of prosecutions Remanded in custody(36) Prosecutions Remanded in custody as a percentage of prosecutions 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 2,859 55,037 5.2 2,626 62,282 4.2 
			 Bedfordshire 743 18,474 4.0 716 21,472 3.3 
			 Cambridgeshire 663 11,965 5.5 448 12,861 3.5 
			 Cheshire 1,233 35,380 3.5 1,169 33,519 3.5 
			 City of London 282 10,485 2.7 222 10,374 2.1 
			 Cleveland  27,465   26,112  
			 Cumbria  14,409   18,923  
			 Derbyshire 1,302 34,295 3.8 1,364 33,625 4.1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,582 46,827 3.4 1,552 50,205 3.1 
			 Dorset 799 19,618 4.1 705 20,347 3.5 
			 Durham 1,079 17,860 6.0 872 16,377 5.3 
			 Essex 1,463 60,663 2.4 1,642 53,692 3.1 
			 Gloucestershire 311 17,836 1.7 383 15,964 2.4 
			 Greater Manchester  134,664   133,843  
			 Hampshire 2,330 58,479 4.0 2,433 57,475 4.2 
			 Hertfordshire  28,825   33,377  
			 Humberside 2,016 31,555 6.4 2,159 36,141 6.0 
			 Kent 1,078 44,454 2.4 1,334 53,523 2.5 
			 Lancashire 2,934 67,919 4.3 2,538 73,935 3.4 
			 Leicestershire 1,645 39,487 4.2 1,483 44,881 3.3 
			 Lincolnshire 877 26,993 3.2 687 28,967 2.4 
			 Merseyside  57,072   66,781  
			 Metropolitan Police 12,519 255,733 4.9 10,727 250,449 4.3 
			 Norfolk 435 21,802 2.0 455 25,329 1.8 
			 North Yorkshire 625 19,170 3.3 786 18,925 4.2 
			 Northamptonshire 397 14,534 2.7  25,116  
			 Northumbria 3,011 66,327 4.5 2,774 68,132 4.1 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,557 39,054 6.5 2,605 43,844 5.9 
			 South Yorkshire 1,340 53,832 2.5 1,267 47,830 2.6 
			 Staffordshire 606 26,136 2.3 512 29,160 1.8 
			 Suffolk 715 23,151 3.1 790 24,029 3.3 
			 Surrey  20,713   19,127  
			 Sussex 1,769 38,925 4.5 1,358 38,794 3.5 
			 Thames Valley 1,172 63,500 1.8  62,120  
			 Warwickshire 230 13,935 1.7 216 13,448 1.6 
			 West Mercia 1,298 35,708 3.6 1,318 33,573 3.9 
			 West Midlands 4,535 131,683 3.4 3,332 134,611 2.5 
			 West Yorkshire 8,857 93,022 9.5 7,410 98,844 7.5 
			 Wiltshire 659 21,376 3.1 469 23,848 2.0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 691 17,727 3.9 640 19,489 3.3 
			 Gwent 881 25,702 3.4 865 28,062 3.1 
			 North Wales  25,389   27,193  
			 South Wales 998 57,645 1.7 1,394 64,221 2.2 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			  Remanded in custody(36) Prosecutions Remanded in custody as a percentage of prosecutions 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 2,030 60,156 3.4 
			 Bedfordshire 660 20,774 3.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 382 13,233 2.9 
			 Cheshire 1,068 35,759 3.0 
			 City of London 427 11,526 3.7 
			 Cleveland  26,322  
			 Cumbria  19,151  
			 Derbyshire 1,106 33,004 3.4 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,305 45,601 2.9 
			 Dorset 631 19,563 3.2 
			 Durham 559 14,466 3.9 
			 Essex 1,556 51,673 3.0 
			 Gloucestershire 401 15,605 2.6 
			 Greater Manchester  140,008  
			 Hampshire 2,097 56,548 3.7 
			 Hertfordshire 649 37,088 1.7 
			 Humberside 1,636 34,820 4.7 
			 Kent  54,819  
			 Lancashire 1,990 62,273 3.2 
			 Leicestershire 1,426 41,274 3.5 
			 Lincolnshire 706 28,997 2.4 
			 Merseyside  65,486  
			 Metropolitan Police 9,230 263,988 3.5 
			 Norfolk 292 23,685 1.2 
			 North Yorkshire 310 20,067 1.5 
			 Northamptonshire  26,680  
			 Northumbria 2,203 65,456 3.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,111 42,238 5.0 
			 South Yorkshire 996 48,621 2.0 
			 Staffordshire 492 33,540 1.5 
			 Suffolk 707 27,161 2.6 
			 Surrey  20,104  
			 Sussex 1,311 37,823 3.5 
			 Thames Valley  66,201  
			 Warwickshire 206 17,077 1.2 
			 West Mercia 1,383 37,796 3.7 
			 West Midlands 3,177 136,365 2.3 
			 West Yorkshire 6,639 103,855 6.4 
			 Wiltshire 554 22,814 2.4 
			 Dyfed-Powys 519 16,012 3.2 
			 Gwent 933 25,147 3.7 
			 North Wales  28,993  
			 South Wales 2,537 70,834 3.6 
		
	
	''reliable remand data not available
	(36)Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail

Murdered Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list minors killed in the last 12 months by (a) parents and (b) carers in all cases where proceedings are complete; and what their relationship was to their murderer in each case.

Fiona Mactaggart: In 200304, for cases where proceedings are complete, 14 homicide victims aged less than 16 years were killed by their parents (includes adoptive parents). One victim under 16 years was killed by their step parent (includes children of suspect's cohabitant/lover). This is based on data as at 22 October 2004.
	The relationship codes for homicide do not include a classification for 'carer' so data on homicides by carers are not available centrally.

Murdered Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been killed by a non-resident parent in each of the last five years during (a) authorised contact and (b) unauthorised contact.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collected centrally.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of Members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.

Charles Clarke: The reply is found in the following table.
	
		
			Name of advisory NDPB   (a) hold public meetings  (b) conduct public consultation exercises (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests   (d) publish a register of Members' interests 
		
		
			 Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration No but does hold public events No but may consult during evaluation work No but may consult such in evaluation work No 
			 Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs No but has to an invited audience No but consults with key stakeholders(37) No but consults with key stakeholders(37) Members' interests are available on request 
			 Advisory Panel on Country Information No One in 2003 No No 
			 Animal Procedures Committee No Yes Yes Yes 
			 Correctional Services Accreditation Panel No No No No 
			 Futurebuilders Advisory Panel No No No No 
			 Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee No No No No 
			 Victims Advisory Panel No No No No 
			 Police Advisory Board for England and Wales No No No No 
			 Police Negotiating Board No No No No 
			 Prison Service Pay Review Body for England and Wales No No No but it takes evidence Yes on website www.ome.uk.com at the Office of Manpower Economics 
			 Sentencing Advisory Panel No Yes No Yes 
			 Sentencing Guidelines Council No Yes No Yes 
			 Technical Advisory Body for the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 No No No No 
		
	
	
		
			   Name of advisory NDPB  (e) publish agendas for meetings  (f) publish the minutes of meetings Is it under a statutory requirement in each case? 
		
		
			 Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration Yes in accordance with Freedom of Information Yes in accordance with Freedom of Information No 
			 Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Not routinely Not routinely No 
			 Advisory Panel on Country Information Yespublished after the meeting on website www.apci.org.uk Yes on website www.apci.org.uk No 
			 Animal Procedures Committee Yes Yes No 
			 Correctional Services Accreditation Panel No No No 
			 Futurebuilders Advisory Panel No No No 
			 Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee No No No 
			 Victims Advisory Panel No No but have plans to do so in the future No 
			 Police Advisory Board for England and Wales No No No 
			 Police Negotiating Board No No No 
			 Prison Service Pay Review Body for England and Wales No No Yes for (c) 
			 Sentencing Advisory Panel No Yes on website www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk and click on the Sentencing Advisory Panel's logo Yes for only (b) 
			 Sentencing Guidelines Council No Yes on website: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk Yes for only (b) 
			 Technical Advisory Body for the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 No No No

Operation Tarian

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Operation Tarian mounted by the South Wales, Gwent and Avon and Somerset police forces.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office has commissioned a preliminary evaluation of the work of the Regional Task Force, which is the supply reduction component of Operation Tarian. It became fully operational in January 2004. The evaluation covers its first full year of operation and assess the feasibility of conducting a fuller evaluation at a later date. Findings will be published in 2006.

Parliamentary Questions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer question reference 23,300, tabled on 26 October 2005 by the hon. Member for Yeovil.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 November 2005, Official Record, column 31W.

Parliamentary Questions

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Sunderland, South, reference 18605, tabled on 13 October.

Charles Clarke: I replied to my hon. Friend on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1730W.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held beyond their automatic release date.

Fiona Mactaggart: The only prisoners who should not be released at their automatic release date are
	(i) those held under Immigration Act powers; the number of these fluctuates but at any one time will be between 200 and 300.
	(ii) those serving a disciplinary punishment of additional days; the number of these is not centrally recorded.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulatory impact assessments have been produced by his Department since August 2001; and if he will list (a) those produced following initial consultation with affected parties on the most appropriate methodology for assessing costs and other impacts and (b) those that set out full commercial impacts, including on profitability, employment, consumer prices and competitiveness, as recommended in Good Policy Making.

Charles Clarke: From August 2001 to the end of June 2005 the Department has produced 65 regulatory impact assessments (RIAs), published with legislation, broken down as follows: 2001 (August to December) 42002 82003 2004 92004 202005 (January to June) 24.
	The increase from 2004 is a reflection of the change to the RIA process whereby we now complete RIAs in relation to the public sector as well as the private, voluntary and charitable sectors. In preparing RIAs, we follow the Better Regulation Executive (Cabinet Office) guidance in assessing costs and benefits and the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the proposal. RIA requirements have developed over theyears since its introduction in 1998 but now also cover a wider range of issues including competition and impact on small firms. This information is recorded in the individual RIAs and generally includes comments on the consultation process, both formal and informal. We also routinely consult publicly on our proposals, with an accompanying Partial RIA, and publish a summary of the views received and our response. The 65 individual RIAs are listed in a regular Command Paper House prepared by Cabinet Office and laid before the House. Copies, together with related consultation documents, can be accessed on the Home Office website.

Road Safety

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the number of sentences passed on persons convicted of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving in the last five years by (a) type of sentence and (b) duration of custodial sentence.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The information requested in shown in the following table.
	
		Persons sentenced for death by dangerous driving, 2000 to 2004England and Wales
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Total sentenced 193 226 228 233 241 
			 Absolute discharge 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Conditional discharge 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Fine 4 4 6 1 3 
			 Community sentence 13 17 12 3 5 
			 Fully suspended sentence 8 10 11 11 11 
			 Immediate custody 166 193 199 217 221 
			 Otherwise dealt with 2 1 0 0 0 
			   
			 Average custodial sentence  length (months) 37.1 39 39.2 43 44.4 
		
	
	Source:
	RDSNOMS 29 November 2005

Schedule 1 Offenders

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department what proportion of schedule 1 offenders who have attended a sex offenders treatment programme have subsequently reoffended; and what the rate of recidivism involving a similar offence of schedule 1 offenders who have not undergone a sex offenders treatment programme has been in each of the last two years.

Paul Goggins: The collection of reconviction data for sex offenders attending current treatment programmes is not yet available. Research on early versions of the current programmes found that 4.6 per cent. of offenders completing treatment on the Prison Service programme were reconvicted compared to 8.1 per cent. of sex offenders who did not attend the programme.
	The early version of one of the community-based sex offender treatment programmes found that 3.2 per cent. of sex offenders who completed treatment were reconvicted compared to 10.6 per cent. of sex offenders who did not attend treatment. Both prison and community treatment programmes have been revised since this research. However, it is too soon to be able to collect reconviction data over a meaningful period.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the executive directors of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Paul Goggins: The Executive Directors of the Serious Organised Crime Agency are: David Bolt, Trevor Pearce, Paul Evans and Malcolm Cornberg.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary of the (a) chair, (b) director general designate and (c) each of the four executive directors of the Serious Organised Crime Agency is in 200506; what the recruitment costs for the(a) chair, (b) director general designate and (c) each of the four executive directors of the Serious Organised Crime Agency were; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The chair of the Serious Organised Crime Agency was appointed in September 2004 to receive a remuneration of 120,000 p.a. (pro rata). The director general was recruited on a salary of up to 150,000 p.a. These figures were subject to a 2.5 per cent. increase in line with other senior civil servants' pay as at 1 April 2005.
	The salaries of the executive directors are within the advertised pay range set out in the recruitment advertisement, which is between 100,000 and 120,000 for the Enforcement, Intelligence and Intervention Directors and 120,000 and 140,000 for the Director of Corporate Services.
	The recruitment costs were in line with those published in the Cabinet Office Framework Agreement for Executive Search Firms in force at the time.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of sex offenders are participating in home detention curfews.

Fiona Mactaggart: On 25 November 2005 there were 3,210 prisoners serving the remaining part of their sentence on the home detention curfew (HDC) scheme. According to the Prison Service IT system, none of those were prisoners subject to the registration requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 or were serving sentences for sexual offences.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

Tagging

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about tagging people who have been convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have received no representations about tagging people convicted under this Act.

Terrorism

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1436W, on terrorism, on how many occasions since 1997 he has suggested to Association of Chief Police Officers that chief constables contact hon. Members about a particular Government policy; and what the policies were.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 24 November 2005
	The Government's view is that it is to the benefit of both hon. Members and the police service for there to be regular discussions between them on issues of topical interest which affect policing. That approach is reflected in the links between Home Office Ministers and officials and the police service. Precise details on all the occasions since 1997 when the police have been encouraged to contact hon. Members could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Terrorism

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were stopped under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 during (a) the Defence Systems and Equipment International trade fair 2005, (b) the Labour party conference 2005, (c) the Conservative party conference 2005 and (d) the Liberal Democrat party conference 2005.

Charles Clarke: Statistics showing the number of stop-searches in each police force area for England and Wales under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin and are available on the Research, Development and Statistics page of the Home Office website.
	The Home Office Statistical Bulletin: 'Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE; England and Wales', details stops and searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, broken down by police force over financial years. The bulletin also shows subsequent arrests. The most recently available figures can be found on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html. Statistics are not collated below police force area, therefore the number of people stop-searched at specific events or locations is not available.

Young Offenders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) 12, (b) 13, (c) 14, (d) 15 and (e) 16-year-olds have been held in custody under sentence in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table gives the requested information as at 30 June in each of the years concerned:
	
		Young people aged 12 to 16 held in custody on 30 June2005
		
			 Age Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 12 12 0 12 
			 13 35 7 42 
			 14 126 23 149 
			 15 367 36 403 
			 16 759 72 831 
			 Total 1,299 138 1,437 
		
	
	
		2004
		
			 Age Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 12 11 1 12 
			 13 42 5 47 
			 14 111 11 122 
			 15 389 39 428 
			 16 707 42 749 
			 Total 1,260 98 1,358 
		
	
	
		2003
		
			 Age Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 12 6 1 7 
			 13 34 9 43 
			 14 136 25 161 
			 15 343 33 376 
			 16 723 48 771 
			 Total 1,242 116 1,358 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			 Age Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 12 8 0 8 
			 13 48 10 58 
			 14 160 18 178 
			 15 396 46 442 
			 16 802 63 865 
			 Total 1,414 137 1,551 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			 Age Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 12 12 2 14 
			 13 38 2 40 
			 14 151 12 163 
			 15 401 30 431 
			 16 735 39 774 
			 Total 1,337 85 1,422

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

10 Victoria Street

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of his Department's 10 Victoria Street building.

Alan Johnson: 10 Victoria Street has been vacated by the Department and is surplus to DTI requirements. It is now being brought up to a condition suitable for reletting on the commercial market or reuse elsewhere within Government.

Arms Sales (Iraq)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British companies were engaged in the sale of arms to Iraq between (a) 1980 and 1991 and (b) 1991 and 2003; what arms were exported in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI holds information only on the export licence applications it has received. Information on which UK companies have applied for licences to export military list equipment to Iraq is commercially confidential and as such is exempt from disclosure. The Scott report does however contain some export licensing information, including on the applicant companies and the goods involved, relating to the period 19841990; the report is available from the Libraries of the House. The hon. Member will be aware that a full-scope UN arms embargo has been in place on Iraq since 1990 (UN Security Resolution 661).
	Since 1997, the Government have published detailed information on THEIR export licensing decisions, including summaries of the goods licensed, in their annual report on Strategic Export Controls, available from the Libraries of the House.

Artists' Resale Levy

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence led him to reconsider his Department's policy on excluding sales of below 3,000euros from the artists' resale levy.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 1 December 2005
	No final decisions have been reached on the implementation of artist's resale right. We have consulted extensively with all interested parties and have met representatives from the art trade and artists. We have also commissioned and received independent evidence since the European Directive was originally negotiated.
	The Government's decision will be based on ensuring the continuing success of the British art market and supporting British artists. We will announce a decision in this House in the very near future.

Broadband Provision

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking on local loop unbundling to ensure that the UK continues to improve its broadband provision.

Alun Michael: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom is the independent regulator for the communications sector, deriving its main powers and duties directly from statute rather than by delegation from the Secretary of State, and accountable to Parliament in its own right. Accordingly, the officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member and to send me a copy of his response. Copies of the chief executive's letter will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Business Start-ups

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants are available from the Government and their agencies to assist business start-ups in Rochdale constituency.

Alun Michael: There is one grant specifically available to the Rochdale area and it is funded under the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB round 5). The Business Development Grant provides funding to both start ups and existing businesses which are setting up in, are located in, or are re-locating to, the inner Rochdale SRB5 area, provided they can demonstrate an element of job creation or job safeguarding.
	Monies can be used towards the purchase of equipment, market research and feasibility studies, marketing and legal set up costs. Applicants can receive 70 per cent. of eligible costs up to a maximum of 3,000.
	The Inner Rochdale SRB5 area stretches from Sparth to Cloverhall, and from Deeplish and Newbold to Lower Falinge and Hamer.
	Rochdale also benefits from Selective Finance for Investment. There are currently eight companies in Rochdale benefiting from these funds, which focus on job creation and job safeguarding.

Business Start-ups

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many grants for job creation his Department awarded in Rochdale in each year from 1992; and what the value was in each case.

Alun Michael: The following awards were made to companies in Rochdale:
	
		
			  Number of companies Offered Capex Jobs created Jobs safeguarded Programme 
		
		
			 199798 1 50,000 345,000 20  RSA 
			 199899 12 914,500 6,762,960 192 84 RSA 
			 19992000 6 879,000 8,733,376 111 283 RSA 
			 200001 5 1,070,000 11,207,448 256 60 RSA 
			 200102 4 430,000 3,742,650 88 28 RSA 
			 200304 2 344,000 2,934,000 112  RSA 
			 200405 8 596,000 5,118,700 426 32 RSA/SFI 
		
	
	Note:
	Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)
	Selective Finance Investment (SFI)

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are in place to assess the effectiveness of consultant-led projects in his Department; what sanctions are available to penalise consultants who run unsuccessful projects; how many projects conducted by consultants were assessed as unsuccessful in each year since 2000; and what sanctions were imposed.

Alan Johnson: Comprehensive guidance on the appointment and management of consultants by the Department is available to staff via the Department's intranet. This details necessary steps and considerations at all stages of the engagement of consultants, from justification of need in the business case through to submission of a Post-Completion Report by the Departmental project manager. This Post-Completion document should mirror the original business case and address among other things whether critical success factors were achieved, whether the project was carried out to schedule and to budget and an assessment of lessons learned about the consultant's performance and the management of the project.
	The online guidance refers users to the requirements of the OGC Gateway process that provides assurance at critical stages of a programme or project's lifecycle.
	Contracts should set out key performance measures via, for example, 'Service Level Agreements', which specify the deliverables and timescales to be met by the consultant. In the event of these targets not being met contracts may provide for the payment of liquidated damages by the contractor. This will be agreed on a case by case basis.
	Further information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list departmental projects conducted by consultants in each year since 2000; what the cost was in each case; and what the total cost of employing consultants was in each year.

Alan Johnson: Central records indicate that the cost of employing consultants in each financial year has been as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200001 36 
			 200102 64 
			 200203 93 
			 200304 112 
			 200405 86 
		
	
	Further information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 10 largest amounts of damages paid out by his Department in the last year for which figures are available, indicating in each case the nature of the claim.

Alan Johnson: There were seven claims for damages paid out by my Department in the last financial year (200405) as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Compensation for work related personal injury 8,500 
			 Compensation for upheld complaint of bullying and harassment, including compensation for loss of earnings 6,812.49 
			 Compensation for work related personal injury 6,500 
			 Compensation for work related personal injury 4,100 
			 Compensation for upheld complaint of disability discrimination 2,500 
			 Compensation for upheld complaint of race discrimination 2,000 
			 Compensation for upheld complaint of race discrimination 2,000

Departmental Estate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) land and (b) property his Department (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The following list shows properties owned/rented by the Department and the constituency in which each building is located.
	
		
			 Building/land Constituency Tenure 
		
		
			 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W Cities of London and Westminster Rented 
			 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H Cities of London and Westminster Rented 
			 Kingsgate House, London, SW1E Cities of London and Westminster Rented 
			 Oxford House, London, W1D Cities of London and Westminster Rented 
			 10 Victoria Street, London, SW1H Cities of London and Westminster Rented 
			 Atholl House, Aberdeen, ABU Aberdeen North Rented 
			 St. Mary's House, Sheffield, S2 Sheffield Central Rented 
			 Newtown House, Nottingham, NG1 Nottingham South Rented 
			 Westfield House, London, SW18 Putney Rented 
			 2A Ryland Street, Warrington, WA1 Warrington South Rented 
			 Tay House, Glasgow, G2 Glasgow Central Rented 
			 Amberley House, Gloucester, GL2 Gloucester Rented 
			 Queensway House, Billingham, TS23 Stockton North Rented 
			 National Physics Laboratory, Teddington, TW11 Twickenham Owned 
			 Wrest Park, Bedfordshire Mid-Bedfordshire Owned 
			 Core Store, Edinburgh, EH17 Edinburgh South Owned

Departmental Sponsorship

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the names of the awards are that have been sponsored by his Department in the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: The information is as follows:
	Asian Business Awards
	Black Enterprise Business Awards
	Best Factory Awards
	British Building Maintenance Awards
	British Computer Society (IT Developer of the Year Award)
	British Construction Industry Awards
	British Diversity Awards
	E-commerce Awards
	European Federation of Black Women Business Owner Awards
	Everywoman Award
	First Womens Awards
	GRAFTAS
	Handbags.com Business Awards
	Manufacturing Excellence Awards
	Schools Aerospace Challenge
	Startups.co.uk Awards
	Note:
	The term 'sponsor' has been defined as business/industry awards programmes that have received a financial contribution from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Departmental Staff

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many personnel were employed in his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) civil servants, (b) contractors and (c) other staff.

Alan Johnson: The figures for the number of civil servants employed by the Department of Trade and Industry are published in Table C of the Civil Service Statistics which covers permanent staff numbers (on a full-time equivalent basis) in each Departments and Agency. The latest (2004) Civil Service Statistics are available in the Libraries of the House and on the Cabinet Office Statistics website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_ service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp
	Specific data on the number of contractors and other staff in the Department and Agencies since 1997 is not held. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure the Department's websites attain the W3C AAA standard of accessibility for people with visual and other disabilities; and if he will set a target date for this standard to be achieved by.

Alan Johnson: DTI follows the Guidelines for UK Government Websites which mandate Level A of the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. DTI aims to go beyond this by meeting the AA standard, along with those elements of AAA which are considered best practice. However, neither the Government Guidelines, e-Accessibility communications from the European Union or advice from the RNIB have ever suggested that government websites should attain and maintain the whole of Level AAA.
	We do recognise importance of ensuring all of our web content is accessible to all our customers, regardless of disability, level of technology or other factors. We therefore strive to build accessibility and usability into all our websites, from commissioning the initial design to the ongoing maintenance.

Economic Performance Statistics

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his oral statement of 19 May 2005, Official Report, column 283, what the source is for his reference to the UK as the fourth largest economy of the world; and when he expects such figures will next be updated.

Alan Johnson: The source was OECD statistics of comparative GDP of member states at current prices and exchange rates. The latest figures published by the OECD relate to 2004. Data for 2005 will be released towards the middle of 2006.

Energy Imports

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's energy requirements for the 200405 financial year was imported from France; and at what cost.

Malcolm Wicks: During the calendar year 2004, the United Kingdom imported 9,784GWh of electricity generated in France, which was valued at 347 million. In addition, small quantities of coal, manufactured solid fuels and petroleum products were also imported from France, but from records held centrally it is not possible to reliably identify whether these were produced in France or if French companies acted as intermediaries.
	In total, imports from France accounted for around 2 per cent. of energy imports, equating to around 1 per cent. of UK primary energy demand.

Energy Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who will chair the Energy Review; when it will deliver its preliminary findings; whether they will be published; when he expects it will be completed; and when he expects its findings to be made public.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 December 2005
	Iwill lead the Energy Review.
	The Review will report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in early summer. Details of the arrangements for the publication of the findings of the Review will be made available at that time.

Energy Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek a cross-party consensus on the recommendations of the Energy Review before they are published.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 December 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I would welcome contributions throughout the Energy Review process from a wide range of stakeholders, which of course includes colleagues from all parties.

Energy Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department plans to publish a White Paper following completion of the Energy Review; how representations should be made to the Review; whether there will be public hearings; and whether the Review will consider the (a) operation of energy markets and (b) incentives for long-term investment in the energy sector.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 December 2005
	There are no plans to publish a White Paper at present.
	A consultation document will be published early in the review process. Stakeholders will be invited to respond to the consultation document in writing. Throughout the review a programme of events will be held to engage with stakeholders and encourage an informed debate.
	The Terms of Reference of the Review are broad in scope including aspects of both energy supply and demand and will focus on policy measures to help us deliver our objectives beyond 2010.

Energy Supplies (Wales)

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what projections his Department has made for carbon dioxide emissions in Wales based on (a) a continuation of the present mix of energy sources, (b) mixes of energy sources that include nuclear power and (c) mixes of energy sources that do not include nuclear power; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what projections his Department has made for a mix of energy sources to meet energy demand in Wales that (a) includes and (b) does not include nuclear power over the next (i) five, (ii) 10, (iii) 20 and (iv) 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Official energy and emissions projections are not available for Wales. Projections for the UK as a whole were published in November 2004, and are available on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep2004.pdf. An addendum was also published, which extended the projections to 2020, and can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf.

Energy Supplies (Wales)

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry what assessment his Department has made of the potential for renewable energy to meet energy demand in Wales over the next (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 20 and (d) 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have a target of 10 per cent. of electricity coming from Renewable Obligation eligible sources of renewable energy by 2010, with an aspiration to double that by 2020.
	The Department has made no assessment of the potential for renewable energy to meet energy demand by region. However, the Welsh Assembly Government have recently published Technical Advice Note 8:M (Tan 8) Planning for Renewable Energy, and is consulting on Route Map to a clean, low carbon and more competitive energy future for Wales. Copies are available from their website http://www.wales.gov.uk

Enterprise Grants

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enterprise grants were made available to small and medium-sized enterprises in each year from 1997 until the scheme concluded; and what their total value was in (a) the UK, (b) each region and (c) each constituency.

Alun Michael: The Enterprise Grant scheme was launched on 1 January 2000 and closed to new applications on 31 March 2004. Scheme information relating to applications, offers and expenditure by region can be found in the Industrial Development Act Annual Report, published by the Stationery Office and placed in the Libraries of the House. Due to changes in data storage the information is not available by constituency.

EU Directive 2001/77/EC

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in meeting the requirements of Article 6 of EU Directive 2001/77/EC; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Article 6 of the EU Directive 2001/77/EC, on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, refers to Administrative procedures and the need to:
	reduce the regulatory and non-regulatory burden;
	streamline and expediting procedures; and
	ensure that the rules are objective, transparent and non-discriminatory.
	The 2003 Energy White Paper 'Our energy futurecreating a low carbon economy', reviewed Government's energy policy including renewables and also gave a commitment to review progress of the Renewables Obligation in 200506. The Government are currently consulting on the 200506 Review of the Renewables Obligation. The changes under consideration are limited and seek to maintain the stability of the Obligation while improving its effectiveness over time.
	A copy of the consultation document is available from the Libraries of the House.

Freedom of Information

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Freedom of Information applications his Department has received; how many have taken more than 20 days to process; and how many of these gave rise to complaints about the time taken.

Alan Johnson: Between 1 January and 30 June 2005 my Department received 533 requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). 205 requests took longer than 20 working days to respond to, of which 52 were answered within an extended time as permitted by the Act. These figures were published in the Department for Constitutional Affair's FOI monitoring bulletins for the first and second quarters of 2005. The number of complaints about the time taken to respond to requests under the Act is not a figure which is required for central Government monitoring purposes and is therefore not held by my Department.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs is committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcomes of requests. The bulletin for the second quarter was published on 30 September 2005 and can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/statsapr-jun05.htm and the bulletin for the first quarter can be found at http://www.foi.gov.uk/statsjan-mar05.htm. The bulletins are available in the Libraries of the House. The next bulletin will be published before Christmas, and an annual report will be published in early 2006.

Gas

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the Gas Exporting Countries' Forum's long-term influence on global gas prices.

Malcolm Wicks: The evidence to date indicates that gas exporting countries are seeking to increase their supplies. The Gas Exporting Countries' Forum has said that it does not wish to become a 'gas OPEC'.

Microgeneration Energy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned into the potential for microgeneration energy production across the waterways in (a) Leominster constituency, (b) each region of the United Kingdom and (c) the whole of the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: I have not commissioned research that focuses specifically on the potential for microgeneration across the waterways in Leominster constituency or on a regional basis. I did, however, commission a report looking into the costs and benefits of a range of microgeneration technologies including micro-hydro. I plan to publish this report shortly.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many miners' hearing loss claims his Department has paid for more than one medical examination.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 December 2005
	To date, the Department has met the cost of more than one medical examination in 665 miners' hearing loss claims out of 38,244 received.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid in medical costs under the miners' compensation scheme (a) in total and (b) in hearing loss claims; and in respect of how many claims in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 December 2005
	The total paid for medical costs in the respiratory disease and Vibration White Finger schemes is 311 million. This is in respect of 403,000 settled claims. The figure for medical costs in hearing loss claims is not readily available as these are met in respect of individual claims rather than on a schemed basis.

Nuclear Power

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry whether the (a) modification and (b) upgrading of nuclear power stations requires a planning application to be submitted.

Malcolm Wicks: Depending on the nature of the change, planning permission may be required.

Patent Office

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the next quinquennial review of the Patent Office will take place.

Alan Johnson: A recommendation of Better Government ServicesExecutive Agencies in the 21stCentury published by the Prime Minister's Office of Public Services Reform in July 2002 was that the central programme of quinquennial reviews of agencies such as the Patent Office, was abolished and replaced by business reviews of the end-to-end process in achieving specific outcomes. The methodology for such reviews and the cycle of them is integrated with the departments' business planning process and specific priorities for review agreed as part of Spending Review decisions.
	A methodology has been adopted whereby the Patent Office Business Plan is agreed each year with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure its objectives match departmental objectives and plans.

Post Office

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to maintain the Post Office as a public utility; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made it clear at DTI oral questions on 21 July that the Government will not privatise Royal Mail. We will continue to pursue our ambition of a publicly owned Royal Mail Group, including Post Office Ltd., fully restored to good health and providing customers with an excellent service and its employees with rewarding employment.

Public Service Agreements

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the feasibility of making international comparisons of consumer empowerment and support for the purposes of measuring achievement against public service agreement target 3.

Alan Johnson: In 2003, my Department published a comparative report on consumer policy regimes. The report can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/pdf1/benchmain.pdf. This was the result of work by DTI, OFT and HM Treasury officials looking at nine different consumer policy regimes across the OECD.
	A DTI-led research programme under the OECD's Committee on Consumer Policy is now examining in more detail specific aspects of consumer policy regimes in OECD countries, with the aim of identifying the common features of effective regimes. As the research progresses, our understanding of what makes an effective consumer regime should improve and we will be able to compare aspects of our own regime against this.

Regional Assistance Grant

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total amount of regional assistance grant to industry was in (a) each constituency in the north west of England and (b) each region in England in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The figures in the table include Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and Selective Financial Investment (SFI) grants. RSA came to an end at the end of the financial year 200304 and was replaced by Selective Financial Investment (SFI). However some RSA grants received at the end of the financial year 200304 were processed in 200405.
	RSA and SFI are aimed specifically at assisted areas (list as follows) which means that not all the constituencies in the North West are eligible for funding.
	
		
			 Constituency Amount offered () Capital expenditure () New jobs Safeguarded jobs 
		
		
			 Barrow and Furness 3,850,000 38,674,500 23 836 
			 Birkenhead 600,000 3,609,000 85 6 
			 Blackburn 795,000 5,995,666 68 88 
			 Bolton North East 328,000 3,432,000 28 51 
			 Bolton South East 26,000 228,450 2 0 
			 Bolton West 494,000 2,720,051 113 43 
			 Bootle 85,000 478,800 14 0 
			 Burnley 35,000 260,000 3 0 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 109,000 566,000 25 1 
			 Denton and Reddish 114,800 787,000 14 14 
			 Eccles 259,000 1,849,000 3 158 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 2,090,000 12,430,000 142 84 
			 Halton 363,500 5,228,000 13 15 
			 Heywood and Middleton 197,000 1,379,700 14 32 
			 Hyndburn 172,000 1,159,500 31 24 
			 Knowsley North and Sefton East 5,125,000 23,242,424 113 432 
			 Knowsley South 6,250,000 126,693,000 139 742 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 43,000 356,000 4 0 
			 Leigh 2,192,000 16,173,000 130 281 
			 Liverpool Garston 7,297,000 132,102,000 545 0 
			 Liverpool Riverside 950,000 6,023,500 172 0 
			 Liverpool Wavertree 190,000 1,196,000 38 51 
			 Makerfield 2,547,000 10,597,550 424 33 
			 Manchester Blackley 92,000 615,233 36 42 
			 Manchester Central 2,211,000 10,889,000 375 160 
			 Manchester Gorton 45,000 322,000 2 0 
			 Oldham East and Saddlworth 72,000 654,000 0 0 
			 Oldham West and Royton 292,000 2,640,000 65  
			 Pendle 74,300 751,000 11  
			 Penrith and The Border 23,000 259,000 4  
			 Rochdale 327,000 3,085,000 412  
			 Rossendale and Darwen 220,000 1,312,000 42  
			 St. Helens North 585,000 2,986,000 83 11 
			 St. Helens South 603,000 6,966,168 52 44 
			 Salford 36,000 302,000 2 24 
			 Southport 51,000 218,382 7  
			 Stretford and Urmston 567,000 4,676,867 32 55 
			 Wallasey 100,000 460,000 6  
			 Weaver Vale 2,503,000 20,381,000 113 350 
			 West Lancashire 256,000 1,028,400 30  
			 Westermorland and Lonsdale 27,000 134,000  5 
			 Wigan 1,020,000 13,966,800 63 139 
			 Wirral South 330,000 1,588,500 92  
			 Wirral West 25,000 102,847 1  
			 Workington 440,000 2,511,000 30 82 
			 Total 44,011,600 471,030,338 3,601 3,803

Renewable Energy

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in achieving an increase in electricity production from renewable energy sources in line with EU Directive 2001/77/EC; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have made significant progress in increasing electricity production from renewable energy sources in line with EU Directive 2001/77/EC, on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.
	In 2004, 4.39 per cent. of electricity was derived from renewable sources on a Renewables Directive basis, compared to just 2.85 per cent. in 2001. The details of which are published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES). A copy of DUKES is available from the Libraries of the House.

Renewable Energy

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has undertaken to assess the export potential of renewable energy technologies to developing countries.

Malcolm Wicks: The renewable sector trade promotion service is currently focussing its market visit and appraisal work on countries that have demonstrated the greatest market potential for the UK and is supporting companies to win business in those markets. The service has in the past carried out formal market appraisal work for some developing countries including India and Indonesia which were followed up with trade missions.

Small Business Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries the Small Business Service had from Southend West constituency in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Inquiries for small businesses are handled by the local Business Link. The hon. Member's constituency falls within the catchment area of Business Link for Essex. In 200203 Business Link received 12,717 inquiries; in 200304 16,014 and in 200405 18,657.
	The Business Link for Essex does not collate data at constituency level. However, it holds the following records of inquiries for Southend by financial year:
	
		
			  Number of inquiries 
		
		
			 April 2003 to March 2004 936 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1,228 
			 April 2005 to November 2005 1,623

Small Business Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were started in Southend West constituency with the help of the Small Business Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Southend West parliamentary constituency are shown as follows for 2002 to 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		
			  DTI figures 
		
		
			 2002 275 
			 2003 265 
			 2004 245 
		
	
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
	Public funding for start-ups takes various forms, including support from Business Link. In relation to Business Link, data is not routinely captured at constituency level. However, Business Link for Essex holds the following records of inquiries for Southend by financial year:
	
		
			  Number of inquiries 
		
		
			 April 2003 to March 2004 936 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1,228 
			 April 2005 to November 2005 1,623

Small Business Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding was made available to companies by the Small Business Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The total programme expenditure for the Small Business Service, as reported in its Annual Report and Agency Accounts, was:
	
		 million
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 200203 357 
			 200304 378 
			 200405 386

Small Business Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Small Business Service in assisting the establishment of new companies.

Alun Michael: Since the Small Business Service was established in 2000, business start-ups have risen to record levels. The number of small businesses has risen by over 500,000, since 1997, to 4.3 million. In England the Business Link service is now supporting 170,000 pre-start ups each year. The Small Business Service's Public Sector Agreement target is to help to build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential with (i) an increase in the number of people considering going into business, (ii) an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and (iii) more enterprise in disadvantaged communities. Recent progress in achieving this target is available on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/expenditureplan/report2005/pdfs/expenditure_plan_complete.pdf

Small/Medium Enterprises Employees

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees in the UK are employed (a) in (i) small and (ii) medium-sized enterprises and (b) in total; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: In the UK, at the start of 2004, there were 6,470,000 employees employed in small enterprises (enterprises with 0 to 49 employees), 2,567,000 employed in medium-sized enterprises (enterprises with 50 to 249 employees), and 9,124,000 employed in large enterprises (enterprises with 250 or more employees).
	This gives a total of 18,161,000 employees in the UK private sector at the start of 2004. This excludes 3,838,000 business owners and partners. This information is set out in tables available on the website of the Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service at www.sbs.gov.uk/smes.
	Small businesses make a major contribution to the health of the economy, helping to boost productivity, increase competition and innovation, and generating employment, which is why the Government are committed to making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Since 1997, employment in small firms has risen by nearly 900,000.

Telephone Numbers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 38W, on telephone numbers, when he expects Ofcom to reply to the hon. Member for Gordon.

Alun Michael: I have made inquiries and it appears that due to an administrative error the questions did not reach Ofcom as intended. This has now been rectified and the hon. Member should receive his replies very shortly.

Wind Farm, Gwynt y Mor

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications he has received in respect of the development of the proposed Gwynt y Mor wind farm off the coast of North Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: I can confirm that the Department has received an application under Sections 36 and 36A of the Electricity Act 1989 from npower renewables for the construction of a 750MW offshore electricity generating station at Gwynt y Mor.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Consolidated Resource Accounts

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the written-off bad debt referred to on page 58 of the Consolidated Resource Accounts 200405.

David Lammy: The written off bad debt referred to on page 58 of the consolidated resource accounts 200405 issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport arose as a result a change in treatment of VAT on rental invoices to tenants following a Customs and Excise (now HMRC) determination that DCMS cannot opt to tax and therefore is not providing a supply to its tenants for the purposes of VAT. Hence DCMS cannot issue a VAT invoice.
	Legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor confirmed HMRC advice that DCMS could not opt to tax.

Consolidated Resource Accounts

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the theft of works of art in Buenos Aires referred to on page 58 of the Consolidated Resource Accounts 200405.

David Lammy: The works of art at Buenos Aires were stolen from the UK ambassador's temporary residence, Buenos Aires in August 2001. Details of the stolen works of art were immediately placed on the International Art Loss Register to try to identify any subsequent attempt to sell them on the International Art Market. However, as they have not been recovered, a decision was made to write them off as referred to on page 58 of the Consolidated Resource Accounts 200405.

Gaming Board

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the proposals by the Gaming Board to increase prizes and stakes on gaming machines;
	(2)  what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Gaming Board to increase prizes and stakes.

Richard Caborn: While the triennial review of gaming machine stake and prize limits conducted by the Gaming Board (now replaced by the Gambling Commission) had become a matter of custom and practice, it had no statutory basis.
	The Government decided last year that it would be inappropriate to a schedule of the stakes and prize limits that would apply on increase stake and prize limits just as Parliament was about to debate the Gambling Bill, and before any of the regulatory safeguards proposed in the Bill, now the Gambling Act 2005, could be put in place. Instead implementation of the Act was published alongside the draft Bill.
	While I understand that many in the industry feel they are facing difficult trading conditions, I have seen no clear evidence that would lead the Government to reconsider this position.

Government Art Collection

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the 10 most expensive items of modern art purchased from Government funds in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The information you request is not available centrally. Individual Departments keep records of works of art bought or commissioned by them.

Government Art Collection

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1608W, on departmental assets, whether the Government Art Collection is insured.

David Lammy: The Government Art Collection is not commercially insured. In general, the Government carry their own risk. However, there are a small number of exceptions of works of art in non-Government buildings which are commercially insured.

Government Art Collection

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1608W, on departmental assets, whether an estimate is made of the value of items in the Government Art Collection for (a) risk assessment and (b) insurance purposes when art is selected for Ministers' offices.

David Lammy: The current monetary value of a work of art can only be accurately assessed at the time of its purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be a justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the whole collection commercially valued.
	The professional staff at the Government Art Collection assess each display location on a case by case basis. The works of art from the collection that are placed in Minister's offices are not commercially insured as in general the Government carry their own risk.

Government Art Collection

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1608W, on departmental assets, whether the assessors of the Government Art Collection have identified a particular cross-section of the whole as (a) possessing particular and exceptional merit, (b) as being of particular rarity and (c) in need of preservation.

David Lammy: The professional curators of the Government Art Collection (GAC) assess the most important works within the collection and determine conservation treatment accordingly.

Licensing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on representations received from the hospitality sector in Coventry, South on the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: holding answer 29 November 2005
	I am not aware that the Government have received any representations from the hospitality sector in Coventry, South about the Licensing Act 2003.
	I am confident that licensing reform will remove unnecessary regulatory burdens and enable the hospitality sector in Coventry and elsewhere to better respond to consumer demand. At the same time, licensing reform will help tackle alcohol-related problems by removing artificial and fixed closing times and providing new powers to tackle problem premises.

Licensing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library (a) the Regulatory Impact Assessments for the Licensing Act 2003 and (b) her Department's statutory guidance and subsequent secondary legislation.

James Purnell: All of the Regulatory Impact Assessments, the statutory guidance and secondary legislation have been deposited in the House Libraries on the dates set out in the following tables.
	
		Regulatory Impact Assessments placed
		
			 Date placed in Libraries Title 
		
		
			 20 November 2002 RIA on the Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Bill, November 2002 
			 31 March 2003 Revised RIA on the Licensing Bill 
			 13 January 2005 RIA the Licensing Act 2003 (Personal licences) Regulations 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 (Licensing authority's register)(other information) Regulations 2005 
			 20 January 2005 RIA the Licensing Act 2003 (Traditional conversion fees) Order 2005, the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005 
			 20 October 2005 RIA the Licensing Act 2003 (Permitted Temporary Activities) (Notices) 2005 
		
	
	
		Statutory guidance placed
		
			 Date placed in Libraries Title 
		
		
			 7 July 2004 Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and Guidance to police officers on the operation of closure powers in Part 8 of the Licensing Act 2003 
		
	
	The Stationary Office (TSO) routinely supply all secondary legislation to the House Libraries.
	
		Secondary legislation deposited
		
			 Date placed in Libraries Title 
		
		
			 24 January 2002 SI 493 The Deregulation (Restaurant Licensing Hours) Order 2002 
			 24 July 2002 SI 3205 The Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2002 
			 16 July 2003 SI 1911 (.78) Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement) Order 2003 
			 11 August 2003 SI 2100 (C.86) The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2003 
			 15 December 2003 SI 3222 (C 127) Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.3) Order 2003 
			 8 July 2004 SI 1738 (C.69) Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.4) Order 2004 
			 8 July 2004 SI 1739 Licensing Act 2003 (First appointed day and personal licences transitional period) Order 2004 
			 13 September 2005 SI 2360 (C.101) Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.5) Order 2004 
			 13 September 2005 SI 2362 The Licensing Act 2003 (Licensing statement period) Order 2004 
			 17 January 2005 SI 40 The Licensing Act 2003 (Transitional provisions) Order 2005 
			 17 January 2005 SI 44 The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 
			 17 January 2005 SI 42 The Licensing Act 2003 (Premises Licensing and Club Premises Certificates) Regulations 2005 
			 17 January 2005 SI 41 The Licensing Act 2003 (Personal licensing) Regulations 2005 
			 17 January 2005 SI 43 The Licensing Act 2003 (Licensing Authority's Register) (Other Information) Regulations 2005 
			 20 January 2005 SI 79 The Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005 
			 20 January 2005 SI 80 The Licensing Act 2003 (Transitional conversions fees) Order 2005 
			 25 January 2005 SI 78 The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 22 February 2005 SI 357 The Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 28 July 2005 SI 2090 (C.91) The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.6) Act 2005 
			 29 July 2005 SI 2091 The Licensing Act 2003 (Second appointed day) Order 2005 
			 26 August 2005 SI 2366 The Licensing Act 2003 (Personal licence: relevant offences) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 20 October 2005 SI 2918 The Licensing Act 2003 (Permitted Temporary Activities) (Notices) Regulations 2005 
			 1 November 2005 SI 3027 The Licensing Act 2003 (Amendment of the Gaming Act 1968) (Transfer of Gaming Machine Permits) Order 2005 
			 1 November 2005 SI 3028 The Licensing Act 2003 (Amendment of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976) (Transfer of Amusements With Prizes Permits) Order 2005 
			 2 November 2005 SI 3048 The Licensing Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 
			 3 November 2005 SI 3056 (C.131) The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement No.7 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005

London Olympics

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the opportunities for businesses in Gravesham arising from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: There has been no specific assessment made of the benefits to Gravesham from hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, we expect the Games to offer significant opportunities for business across the whole of the UK with contracts on offer ranging from construction and land remediation through to the design and manufacture of staff uniforms and catering for visitors, athletes and officials.
	We have established a Nations and Regions Group on which each region of Englandincluding the South East of Englandplus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are represented. We are asking each region to develop a plan for their area to maximise the benefits of hosting the Games in sporting, social and economic terms.

Private Finance Projects

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 583W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), on private finance projects, what the (a) capital value and (b) total value is of the Royal Parks Agency's private finance initiative contract for Inn on the Park at St. James'; and what percentage of the contract is attributable to capital value.

David Lammy: The Royal Parks Agency's contract withthe catering concessionaire who runs the Inn the Park restaurant at St. James's Park is, according to HMTreasury guidelines, more properly classified as a public-private partnership than a private finance initiative.
	The capital value of the investment made by the concessionaire to fit out the restaurant was 718,755. The Royal Parks invested 3,146,231 in the project. The total value of the agency's contract with the concessionaire includes an annual licence fee to the agency, which is set at a percentage of the restaurant's annual turnover.
	The value of the licence fee and the percentage rate at which it is set are both matters of commercial confidentiality.

Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost has been of VisitBritain's Britain Welcomes China initiative.

Tessa Jowell: The cost to VisitBritain of the Britain Welcomes China campaign was 49,500. A further 16,500 was raised from VisitBritain's private sector partners. The campaign is part of broader work to ensure that Britain's tourism industry makes the most of this emerging market, which is increasingly important to the whole of the British economy. In 2004, UK exports of goods and services to China amounted to 3.4 billion, a rise of 55 per cent. over the figure for 2002.

Tourism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding she makes available to local authorities to establish tourism officers.

James Purnell: The Government value the importance of local authorities in developing tourism, and believe that the appointment of dedicated tourism officers is one way of adding value by co-ordinating local marketing, infrastructure development, and other functions.
	However, my Department is not responsible for the funding of local authorities, which are themselves best placed to make decisions on tourism funding from their general resources. In making such decisions on the basis of local need, the Government expect local authorities to work closely with the regional development agencies where appropriate, and with others including the private sector.

Tourism

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which 10 tourist attractions in Lancashire received the highest visitor numbers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Purnell: My Department does not keep a central record of the tourist attractions throughout the United Kingdom. VisitBritain who promote tourism in England and overseas, and England's Northwest Research Service produce Attractions Surveys, and it's from these source, that the visitor numbers to the top 10 tourist attractions in Lancashire in 2002 and 2004 have been collated and set out in the table.
	
		
			 Tourist attraction 2004 2003 2002 
		
		
			 Pleasureland Theme Park 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,000,000 
			 Blackpool Pleasure Beach 6,200,000 6,200,000 6,200,000 
			 Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village,  Hyndburn 978,000 1,002,000 907,000 
			 Blackpool Tower 617,389 575,000 641,000 
			 Camelot Theme Park, Chorley 330,895 395,000 365,000 
			 Guildhall, Preston 309,000 (37) 310,000 
			 Blackpool Zoo 300,000 (37) (38)295,000 
			 Lancaster Leisure Park (38)235,000 (37) (38)215,000 
			 Sandcastle, Blackpool 233,922 (37) 400,000 
			 Beacon Fell Country Park, Preston 222,658 (37) (38)250,000 
		
	
	(37)No data held.
	(38)Estimate

Wembley Project

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress of the Wembley project.

Richard Caborn: We have been given assurances that the new Wembley Stadium will be completed in the spring of 2006.
	The aim of both the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Ltd. is to hold the 2006 Cup Final at Wembley.
	This is an extremely complex project that will ensurethat Wembley remains one of the world's great sporting venues and a fitting stadium for football in the 21stcentury.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether under the (a) US/UK bilateral Air Services Agreement and (b) Chicago Convention the US authorities would need to seek permission for the use of (i) UK airspace and (ii) UK overseas territories for the purpose of the extraordinary rendition of those accused of terrorist activities; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Under the UK/USA Air Services Agreement and the Chicago Convention, the permission of the United Kingdom is required to operate scheduled and non-scheduled services between the United States and the United Kingdom or United Kingdom Overseas Territories. Under the Chicago Convention, permission is not needed for non-scheduled, non-commercial civil aircraft overflying or landing at civilian airports in the UK or its Overseas Territories.

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2005, Official Report, columns 10934W, on UK airspace, if he will list those countries (a) where there are substantial grounds to believe that a person deported would be subject to torture and (b) where there is a risk that the death penalty will be applied; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: It is not possible to list countries in the way suggested. The specific circumstances of an individual's case would determine whether there would be substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be subject to torture or face a real risk of the death penalty if deported.

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK Government officials have discussed with the US Administration the use of EU airspace for the purpose of the extraordinary rendition of those accused of terrorist activities since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We raise a range of issues with the United States Administration on a regular basis. The Government are aware of media allegations about extraordinary rendition operations allegedly conducted by the US authorities, and my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, has written to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on behalf of EU Partners.

Albania

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the possible accession of Albania to the EU.

Douglas Alexander: The Thessaloniki summit of June 2003 reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the eventual integration of the Western Balkans countries, including Albania, into the Union. In return for this commitment, the countries undertook to meet the political and economic requirements, including regional co-operation, that are set for all aspirants. The Government fully support the commitment made at Thessaloniki towards Albania, and hopes that Albania will take steps to meet the necessary conditions.

Argentina

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in negotiations with Argentina over air-links to the Falkland Islands.

Douglas Alexander: We would like to see an agreement on further flights between the Falklands and mainland South America but this must be on terms acceptable to all sides. So far we have not reached an agreed basis for starting discussion.

British Embassy (Moscow)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of running the British embassy in Moscow in each year since 2002.

Douglas Alexander: From the budget devolved annually to the British embassy in Moscow, the following has been spent on its running costs during each financial year (FY) since 2002:
	
		
		
			 Financial year Amount 
		
		
			 200203 4,908,161.45 
			 200304 4,542,097.90 
			 200405 4,213,081.25

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research projects commissioned by his Department are being undertaken; and what the publication arrangements are in each case.

Ian Pearson: Definitive information on commissioning of research projects is not held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. However, I am not aware of any external organisations at present commissioned to carry out research projects on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

Ian Pearson: Tendering procedures for the award of contracts by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office adhere to strict guidelines embodying not only the EU procurement directives and UK legislation, but also the Department's own code of ethics. Robust measures forthe evaluation process are in place which ensure not only the equal treatment of all tenders, but also the transparency and impartiality of the process.
	Specific environmental factors can be a criterion and this is considered on a case-by-case basis. However, the Department requires as a minimum that all services are provided in accordance with the Department's environmental policy, which is to conserve energy, water and other resources, reduce waste and phase out the use of ozone depleting substances and minimise the release of greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds and other substances damaging to health and the environment. All written work, including reports, in connection with the contract shall, unless otherwise specified, be produced on recycled paper containing at least 80 per cent. post consumer waste and used on both sides where appropriate.

Egypt

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Government of Egypt on the human rights and welfare of the Baha'i community;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the forthcoming computerisation of identity cards in Egypt and the potential exclusion of the Baha'i community upon the rights of the Baha'i community;
	(3)  what representations he has received on the impact of the forthcoming computerisation of identity cards in Egypt upon (a) the human rights, (b) the access to basic services and (c) the access to employment of the Baha'i community.

Kim Howells: New Egyptian identity cards require citizens to associate themselves with one of only three religions: Islam, Judaism or Christianity. Egyptian citizens of other religions will not be entitled to an identity card, and may therefore suffer from lack of access to public services.
	The Egyptian constitution states that all Egyptian citizens should be treated equally, regardless of religion. It is therefore important that provision is made for all Egyptian citizens to receive identity cards.
	The UK, along with Australia, the USA, Canada and Ireland, took part in a demarche on the Egyptian Government in December 2004 on the topic of identity cards. We plan to raise our concerns again with the Egyptian Government before the end of the year.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received representations from the Baha'i community, Egyptian and international human rights organisations and people that have converted from Islam to Christianity on the impact the new identity cards will have.

EU-Israel Association Agreement

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the Association Council EU-Israel meeting to be held in Brussels on 12 December, the UK presidency will call for Israel to consult the EU by a set date on its compliance with the human rights obligations of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The EU maintains a regular dialogue with Israel on human rights within the framework and structure of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We last raised human rights with Israel at the EU-Israel Political Dialogue and Cooperation subcommittee, which met for the first time on 21 November 2005 and proposed the creation of a new working group on human rights. We will agree with other EU member states what issues to raise in advance of the forthcoming EU-Israel Association Council.

European Court of Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) petitions were received and (b) cases were dealt with by the European Court of Human Rights in the last five years for which figures are available; and how many and what percentage of each total related to each Council of Europe member state.

Douglas Alexander: The following table provides a list of how many petitions have been received and how many cases have been dealt with by the European Court of Human Rights during the 5 year period 200004. The figures also relate to those for each member state of the Council of Europe, excluding Monaco, who only joined the Council of Europe in October 2004.
	
		
			 State Applications lodged 200004 Percentage of applications lodged Cases dealt with 200004(39) Percentage of cases dealt with 
		
		
			 Albania 107 0.060 22 0.029 
			 Andorra 9 0.005 7 0.009 
			 Armenia 239 0.135 52 0.070 
			 Austria 2,080 1.173 1,573 2.108 
			 Azerbaijan 816 0.460 245 0.328 
			 Belgium 1,228 0.692 544 0.729 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 370 0.209 46 0.062 
			 Bulgaria 3,259 1.837 1,360 1.823 
			 Croatia 2,720 1.533 1,485 1.990 
			 Cyprus 219 0.123 107 0.143 
			 Czech Republic 3,809 2.147 1,504 2.016 
			 Denmark 628 0.354 307 0.411 
			 Estonia 678 0.382 623 0.835 
			 Finland 1,188 0.670 726 0.973 
			 France 14,523 8.187 6,331 8.485 
			 Georgia 195 0.110 61 0.082 
			 Germany 9,484 5.347 3,348 4.487 
			 Greece 1,774 1.000 894 1.198 
			 Hungary 2,084 1.175 1,027 1.376 
			 Iceland 45 0.025 28 0.038 
			 Ireland 338 0.191 142 0.190 
			 Italy 16,144 9.101 5,610 7.518 
			 Latvia 1,222 0.689 460 0.616 
			 Liechtenstein 18 0.010 11 0.015 
			 Lithuania 1,985 1.119 1,196 1.603 
			 Luxembourg 231 0.130 87 0.117 
			 Malta 55 0.031 17 0.023 
			 Moldova 1,311 0.739 234 0.314 
			 Netherlands 2,213 1.248 225 0.302 
			 Norway 384 0.216 220 0.295 
			 Poland 21,910 12.352 8,902 11.930 
			 Portugal 1,108 0.625 741 0.993 
			 Romania 14,288 8.055 3,262 4.372 
			 Russia 26,149 14.742 11,324 15.176 
			 San Marino 17 0.010 21 0.028 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 694 0.391 0 0 
			 Slovakia 2,465 1.390 1,316 1.764 
			 Slovenia 1 ,260 0.710 450 0.603 
			 Spain 3,751 2.115 1,997 2.676 
			 Sweden 2,113 1.191 1,293 1.733 
			 Switzerland 1,504 0.848 885 1.186 
			 the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 480 0.271 156 0.209 
			 Turkey 13,930 7.853 6,637 8.895 
			 Ukraine 10,986 6.193 5,639 7.557 
			 United Kingdom 7,371 4.155 3,503 4.695 
			 Total 177,382 100 74,618 100 
		
	
	(39)Cases in this column include: applications declared inadmissible or struck out; and judgments.

Greek Cypriot Community

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Ministerfor Europe last received a request for a meeting with the Greek Cypriot community in the United Kingdom; what his reply was; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Greek Cypriot community invited me to attend a dinner on 8 November and requested a meeting. My reply expressed my regret that I was unable to attend the dinner and meet with them at that time. I am, of course, willing to consider future requests for meetings.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to paragraph 92 of the Intelligence and Security Committee Report Cm 5972, whether the Secret Intelligence Service has reported to the Government on its investigations into the authenticity of its documentary evidence into the claim that Iraq sought to procure uranium from Africa.

Ian Pearson: It is not the Government's policy to comment on intelligence matters. The Intelligence and Security Committee reviewed the assessments made of available intelligence in the report to which my hon. Friend refers. Following this, and exceptionally, all relevant intelligence material relating to Iraq's alleged attempts to procure Uranium from Niger was made available to Lord Butler when conducting his 2004 Review.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many military missions over Iraq have been flown by US aircraft based on Diego Garcia since March 2003; and what types of missions have been flown.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 November 2005
	Ihave been asked to reply.
	Information relating to military missions over Iraq from US aircraft based on Diego Garcia during the combat phase of Operation telic in March and April 2003 is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence or any other Government Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, we can confirm that no US aircraft based at Diego Garcia has been involved in operations over Iraq since the end of April 2003.

Israel

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) the United Nations about the human rights implications of the Israeli air force policy of flying over the occupied Gaza strip breaking the sound barrier to create supersonic booms; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Our embassy in Tel Aviv has raised our concerns about the indiscriminate damage caused by low flying aircraft in Gaza with the Israeli Government and directly with the Israeli air force. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism but must act within international law and minimise the impact of its actions on innocent civilians. Our concerns about Israeli military activity are reflected in our voting record at the United Nations.

Maladministration

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many payments for maladministration have been made by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) other bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: It is the policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and, where appropriate, its sponsored organisations to make financial redress in accordance with the guidance set out in chapter 18.7 and annexes 18.1 and 18.2 of Government Accounting. The guidance can be accessed at:
	http://www.government-accounting.gov.uk/current/content/ga_18_7.htm
	The information the hon. Member requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Department 7 14 10 6 4 
			 Agencies 0 0 0 0 0 
			 NDPBs 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bodies sponsored by  Department 0 0 0 0 0

Mauritania

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Mauritania; and whether he has had recent discussions with officials from this country.

Kim Howells: Following the coup d'etat in Mauritania on 3 August, the UK, along with our EU partners, has sought to engage constructively with the Mauritanian authorities, in order to encourage a return to democracy as soon as possible. Since the coup, UK officials have had bilateral contact with representatives of Mauritania. On 30 November, my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, took part in EU consultations with Mauritania under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, to set a timetable for a return to democracy.
	There are no plans for a Government Minister to visit Mauritania.

Ministerial Meetings

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of (a) Paraguay and (b) Mongolia; and what was discussed.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had the opportunity to meet with President Duarte Frutos of Paraguay.
	The Foreign Secretary has not met President Enkhbayar since he became President of Mongolia. Their last meeting was in October 2003, when he visited the United Kingdom as Prime Minister. They discussed relations between the two countries and shared concerns on international issues such as Iraq and terrorism.

Ministerial Visits

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who made the decision for him to return early from Moscow in November.

Jack Straw: I made the decision in consultation with the Chief Whip.

Ministerial Visits

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many joint visits he has made with the Prime Minister to foreign countries in 2005.

Jack Straw: I have not made any joint bilateral visits with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to foreign countries in 2005. The Prime Minister and I attend European Councils together and we both attended the NATO and EU/US Summits in Brussels in February. More recently the Prime Minister and I were in Barcelona for the EuroMed Conference.

Pakistan

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Government to the Government of Pakistan about the safety of religious minorities living in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Officials have renewed their representations to the Government of Pakistan following recent incidents of violence against minorities.
	On 16 November 2005, EU Heads of Mission met Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz ul Haq and called for greater protection of the rights of minorities.
	The Archbishop of Canterbury, accompanied by members of the British high commission, raised the treatment of minorities in meetings with President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, during his visit from 1929 November.

Romania

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit Romania to assess its progress towards meeting the criteria for EU entry.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary does not currently have plans to visit Romania. The UK is providing assistance and advice to help the Romanian Government implement the necessary EU reforms. The European Commission is closely monitoring Romania's preparations and will produce a progress report in April/May 2006.

Treaty of Rome

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on events planned (a) in the UK and (b) at EU level to commemorate 50 years of the Treaty of Rome; and what budget has been allocated to each such events.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet given consideration to what events it plans to hold in 2007. Further details of European Commission and European Parliament plans can be obtained from the UK Representations of the European Union's Institutions, contact details of which can be found at www.cec.org.uk, www.europarl.org.uk and www.europe.eu.int.

DEFENCE

Bosnia

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of total outstanding claims against third party drivers deemed negligent in Bosnia in cases where reminders have been sent to the Ministry of Justice there.

Don Touhig: The total value of the three outstanding claims against third party drivers deemed negligent in Bosnia in cases where reminders have been sent to the Ministry of Justice is 18,729.

Army Vehicle Repairs

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State forDefence how many (a) Warrior and (b) CVR(T) vehicles have undergone fourth line maintenance in the past 10 years; and to which Army Base Repair Organisation site they were despatched.

Adam Ingram: All level 4 activity for Warrior and CVRT has historically been undertaken at ABRO Donnington. ABRO's records only go back as far as 19992000 and the output since then is as follows:
	
		
			  Warrior CVRT 
		
		
			 199900 53 134 
			 200001 91 158 
			 200102 97 161 
			 200203 88 149 
			 200304 79 133 
			 200405 77 132

Army Vehicle Repairs

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected throughput of (a) Warrior and (b) CVRT vehicles is for fourth line maintenance at the Army Base Repair Organisation Bovington site.

Adam Ingram: As the trade union consultation process on the transfer of activity to Bovington has not concluded, the detailed planning has still to be finalised by ABRO, therefore precise information is not as yet available.
	The intended throughput for level 4 activity at Bovington, based on the indicative requirements is as follows:
	
		
			  Warrior CVRT 
		
		
			 200708 47 62 
			 200809 55 66

BAE Systems (Saudi Arabia)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at how many meetings over the past year held between the Defence Export Services Organisation's (DESO) Regional Directorate 1 overseas staff based in Saudi Arabia and BAE Systems (a) the issue of agents to be used by BAE Systems in Saudi Arabia has been raised and (b) advice and information has been provided to BAE Systems by DESO's overseas staff.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Export Services Organisation Regional Directorate responsible has one member of staff based in Saudi Arabia who has not been contacted by BAE Systems regarding the use of agents in the last year.

Departmental Finance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates 200506 (HC 672), for what reasons actual expenditure under Request for Resources 1: Provision of Defence Capability in the first six months of the current financial year has exceeded forecasts.

John Reid: The forecast figure reported in table 1.6 of the MOD's 200506 Winter Supplementary Estimates was incorrect. HM Treasury will issue a correction notice.
	The revised forecast will be 16,748.9 million, which is still slightly below the provisional out-turn. This is because Forecast Expenditure is profiled evenly across the year, but actual expenditure may not match this detailed profile exactly.
	We expect to be within budget at year end.

Departmental Finance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates 200506 (HC 672), if he will break down the (a) current and (b) revised Request for Resources 1 provision for each of his Department's top level budget holders by (i) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), (ii) indirect resource DEL and (iii) capital DEL.

John Reid: The main estimates split between direct and indirect resources for each top level budget holder (TLB) is set out in table 1 as follows:
	
		Table 1: Composition of direct and indirect DEL by TLB at main estimates 200506 -- 000
		
			 TLB Direct RDEL Indirect RDEL Total 
		
		
			 Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1,395,994 2,128,000 3,523,994 
			 General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) 481,825 127,662 609,487 
			 Commander-in-Chief of Land Command 4,184,573 1,435,867 5,620,440 
			 Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1,890,373 1,781,751 3,672,124 
			 Chief of Joint Operations 386,115 158,473 544,588 
			 Chief of Defence Logistics 3,803,680 3,766,363 7,570,043 
			 2nd Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command 645,497 82,976 728,473 
			 Adjutant General (Personnel and Training Command) 1,570,024 170,730 1,740,754 
			 Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command 751,006 159,998 911,004 
			 Central 2,060,284 256,119 2,316,403 
			 Defence Estates 827,602 146,808 974,410 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 1,626,315 836,916 2,463,231 
			 Corporate Science and Technology 507,943 (4,000) 503,943 
			 Total 20,131,231 11,047,663 31,178,894 
		
	
	The revised winter supplementary estimates split between direct and indirect resources for each top level budget holder (TLB) is set out in table 2 as follows:
	
		Table 2: Revised composition of direct and indirect DEL by TLB at winter supplementary estimates 200506 -- 000
		
			 TLB Direct RDEL Indirect RDEL Total 
		
		
			 Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1,434,270 2,132,205 3,566,475 
			 General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) 449,571 105,396 554,967 
			 Commander-in-Chief of Land Command 4,197,035 1,396,796 5,593,831 
			 Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1,965,203 1,868,531 3,833,734 
			 Chief of Joint Operations 358,112 150,255 508,367 
			 Chief of Defence Logistics 4,439,816 3,202,526 7,642,342 
			 2nd Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command 659,936 85,207 745,143 
			 Adjutant General (Personnel and Training Command) 1,586,602 172,193 1,758,795 
			 Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command 759,547 170,708 930,255 
			 Central 1,876,209 543,373 2,419,582 
			 Defence Estates 890,353 135,091 1,025,444 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 1,808,613 739,582 2,548,195 
			 Corporate Science and Technology 506,288 (4,200) 502,088 
			 Total 20,931,555 10,697,663 31,629,218 
		
	
	The Capital DEL allocations by TLB are set out in the 200506 main estimates in column 7, pages 27677. The revised capital DEL allocations by TLB are set out in column 7, page 207 of the Part 11: Revised subhead detail including additional provision section of the winter supplementary estimates.

Departmental Finance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the winter supplementary estimates 200506 (HC 672), for what reasons the total additional net resource requirement is lower than the additional net cash requirement.

John Reid: The additional cash requirement includes capital and resource expenditure. In accordance with HM Treasury consolidated budgeting guidance for 200506 the total additional net resource requirement excludes capital expenditure, and therefore a lower figure is shown than in the additional cash requirement.

Far East POWs

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he held with representatives of Far East prisoners of war before his decision to offer compensation for distress caused by his Department's failure to set out the eligibility criteria clearly to non-qualifying claimants for the ex-gratia payment scheme for Far East prisoners of war.

Don Touhig: I met my hon. Friend, the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore), who is chairman of the Far East Prisoner of War All Party Parliamentary Group on 13 September, and took the opportunity to discuss the Department's intentions with respect to the level of compensation and the likely reaction of those affected. I also took advice from officials who had previous contact with some of those affected and their representatives, and who therefore had an appreciation of the distress that our maladministration has caused.

Far East POWs

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used in arriving at the figure of 500 compensation awarded to non-qualifying claimants for the ex-gratia payment scheme for Far East prisoners of war for distress caused by his Department's failure to set out the eligibility criteria clearly.

Don Touhig: The payment is for any distress which may have resulted from the loss of expectation of a payment under the scheme. The amount reflects the extent of that expectation and the length of time that those involved have had to wait for a resolution. The award is at the upper end of the scale of what the Ministry of Defence would pay in cases where there has been similar maladministration of our pension and War Pension schemes.

Gulf War Veterans

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the personal medical records of veterans from Wales of the 199091 Gulf conflict have been lost.

Don Touhig: pursuant to the reply, 1 November 2005, Official Report, c. 913W
	It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-Service personnel was misleading.
	Medical records of members of the armed forces are not held centrally. The medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations. The records of those still serving are normally held at their unit medical centre. They are not held in a way that allows the identification of those who at some stage resided in Wales. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the number that may be missing.

Gulf War Veterans

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women from Wales who served in the 199091 Gulf conflict are suffering from diagnosed illnesses.

Don Touhig: pursuant to the reply, 2 November 2005, Official Report, c. 1069W
	It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-service personnel was misleading.
	Information on all the illnesses reported by veterans of the 199091 Gulf conflict is not held centrally. Although the medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations, the MOD does not hold records of all illnesses reported after an individual has left the service. Furthermore, for those still serving, medical records are normally held at their unit medical centre. They are not held in a way that allows the identification of those who at some stage resided in Wales.

Harrier Servicing

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost per man hour of servicing the Harrier fleet at (a) RAF Cottesmore and (b) the Defence Aviation Repair Agency, St. Athan.

Adam Ingram: Costs for servicing the Harrier fleet are not recorded by man-hour and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In overall terms, however, the concentration of Harrier aircraft maintenance, including Harrier GR7 to GR9 upgrade, at RAF Cottesmore, and the introduction of more effective and efficient processes is expected to deliver savings of 44 million over financial years 200506200809.

Harrier Servicing

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average repair times were in the last period for which figures are available on Harrier jets (a) at RAF Cottesmore and (b) the Defence Aviation Repair Agency St. Athan.

Adam Ingram: Detailed information on average repair turn round times of aircraft is not held centrally. Repair times are agreed individually according to the extent of the damage and operational requirements. To obtain an accurate assessment of average repair times would require the manual checking of individual aircraft records to ascertain which elements of work were undertaken for repair purposes, and which fell into other categories, such as, upgrade, role change or scheduled maintenance. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of infiltration by insurgents of Iraqi security forces; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: We are aware that a number of insurgents, militia members or individuals with militia allegiance have been able to join the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and that in some cases ISF members have committed insurgent acts. We continue to work with the Iraqi authorities to assess the scale of this problem. The Ministry of Defence does not, however, conduct routine monitoring of a kind that would provide an accurate quantitative assessment of ISF infiltration in the Multi National Division (South East) area where UK forces are operating.

NATO Secondees

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay those seconded to NATO, including those in the Territorial Army and reservists, the full rate according to current agreements.

Don Touhig: I understand that the hon. Member is referring to comparisons in pay between members of the UK's armed forces and those of the armed forces of other NATO member states.
	The UK armed forces have an expectation of world wide service and their remuneration package is structured accordingly. Their pay is recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). For its 2005 report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence, the AFPRB commissioned a survey into the military remuneration packages of 12 countries which contribute to international operations alongside UK forces. The AFPRB concluded from the results that the UK package remains broadly comparable with those offered by other nations.

Naval Logistical Ships

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total overspend on the two logistical ships under construction at Swan Hunter has been to date.

Adam Ingram: The increase in costs above the originally agreed contract value for the two Swan Hunter vessels is 84 million. However, the company have indicated a likelihood of a further cost increase. The Ministry of Defence is currently in discussion with the company and these discussions are subject to commercial confidentiality.

Operation Telic

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women who have served in Operation Telic have reported illnesses similar to those reported by veterans of the Gulf War.

Don Touhig: pursuant to the reply, 1 November 2005, Official Report, c. 916W
	It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-service personnel was misleading.
	Information on all the illnesses reported by service personnel who have served on Operation Telic is not held centrally. Although the medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations, the records of personnel who are still serving are normally held at their unit medical centre.

Royal Ordnance (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contract between his Department and Proof Yard, Royal Ordnance in Chorley; and whether the contract for work at the Chorley Royal Ordnance site will be renewed after March 2006.

Adam Ingram: The current contract is due to expire on 31 March 2006 and there are no plans to extend the contract beyond that date.

Royal Ordnance (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to ensure that redundancy payments to former employees of Royal Ordnance in Chorley are fully funded.

Adam Ingram: The former Royal Ordnance site at Chorley is now owned by BAE Systems Land Systems. Any redundancy payments made to employees arising from the closure of the site are a matter for the company.

University Officer Training Corps

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training in leadership is offered to participants in University Officer Training Corps schemes.

Don Touhig: Both theoretical and practical leadership training is conducted throughout the syllabus in both military and adventurous training, sport and social activities. Military training, coloured by the sponsor service, is used as a vehicle to deliver leadership opportunities rather than simply delivering military skills. Those who successfully complete the syllabus may sit an examination to gain a City and Guilds Council of Military Education Committees Leadership Award. The award is based on the five core skills areas of: leadership, organisation and self-discipline, communication, teamwork, analysis and problem solving.

PRIME MINISTER

Administrative Savings

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what administrative savings have been made by his office in each of the last eight years.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (Malta)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether on the occasion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Malta (a) he, (b) accompanying Ministers and (c) officials had (i) formal discussions and (ii) discussions on the margins of the conference involving other prime ministers or members of delegations of those countries where Her Majesty the Queen is Head of State about the law and constitution pertaining to the common institution of the Monarchy; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: There were no such discussions.

Ministerial Travel

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 162W, on ministerial travel, when it was last appropriate for him to travel on the London underground on official business.

Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 7 July he has used the London underground in connection with his official duties.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1661W.

Ministerial Visit (Saudi Arabia)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1) whether meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and officials in July 2005 during his visit to Saudi Arabia were attended by employees of BAE Systems; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and officials in July 2005 during his visit to Saudi Arabia included discussion of (a) Saad al-Faqih and (b) Mohammed al-Masari; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and officials in July during his visit to Saudi Arabia included discussion of the Eurofighter Typhoon; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 924W.

Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what consultation he undertook with Northern Ireland political parties before the Government introduced the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill;
	(2)  what discussions he had with church representatives before the Government introduced the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill;
	(3)  what discussions he had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland about paramilitary fugitives from justice before the Government introduced the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill; and what advice he received.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Sugar Beet Farmers

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet a delegation of Shrewsbury sugar beet farmers at No.10 Downing Street to discuss their concerns about the proposed EU sugar regime changes.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so. However, my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach) has met representatives from the National Farmers Union and other interested parties on this issue, and would be happy to meet such a delegation from Shrewsbury.

Terrorism

Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to hisoral answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 298 to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkstone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on terrorism, what estimate he has made of the number of police officers required to analyse the data contained on one 20.4 gigabyte hard drive within 90 days.

Tony Blair: A decision on the number of police officers deployed to focus on a particular area of an investigation, such as analysing data, is the responsibility of the chief constable of the force concerned.

Visits (Shrewsbury)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he last visited Shrewsbury;
	(2)  if he will visit the areas in Shrewsbury prone to flooding.

Tony Blair: I last visited Shrewsbury in November 2000 to inspect flooding in the area, where I met local councillors and members of the Environment Agency. As part of that trip I also visited the other flood hit areas of Bewdley and York.
	While I have no current plans to visit again in the near future, I understand that the Environment Agency has recently invested 3.5 million in a flood risk management improvement project in Shrewsbury, and is considering carefully the case for further investment in other areas of the town.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa (Aid)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what method he will use to measure progress in providing enhanced partnership at the country and regional level, especially through the G8, to increase the effectiveness of aid and ensure that international policies support African development as required by 2004 public service agreement target 1.

Hilary Benn: The Technical Note to DFID's 200508 public service agreement provides full details of the indicators and methodologies which will be used to monitor performance against target 1. The Technical Note is available on DFID's website at www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/PSA/technicalnotes.pdf
	The latest progress against this target, and on all other targets within DFID's PSA, will be reported in the Autumn Performance Report 2005, which will be published later this month.

Darfur

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the development assistance which will be required by Darfur in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2005
	The Department for International Development has not yet made an assessment of the development assistance required by Darfur in the next five and 10 years. The UK and the broader international community have focused efforts in Darfur on responding to the humanitarian needs there; until there is a political resolution to the conflict it is unlikely that significant development work will take place in Darfur. However, we welcome recent efforts by the UN to look at how peace would be consolidated in Darfur through a range of political, humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction work, after a peace agreement.
	Following this, we have recommended to the UN that it and the World Bank undertake an assessment in Darfur as soon as the security situation allows, looking at needs over a three to four year period. We have asked the UN and the World Bank for a concept paper for such an assessment.

Departmental Estate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) land and (b) property his Department (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID does not own or rent any land. DFID owns one property, namely Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G75 SEA in the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.
	DFID rents the following properties:
	1 Palace Street, London, SW1E SHE
	20 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0NF
	both in the constituency of Cities of London and Westminster, and also (for storage purposes only) 43/45 Fairfield Place, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G74 5LP, also in the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of his Department's ability to influence the matters covered by his Department's 2004 public service agreement targets.

Hilary Benn: DFID, in common with all other Government Departments, submits a self-assessment of its capacity to deliver its public service agreement (PSA) targets to the Treasury on a six-monthly basis. These self-assessments feed into the Treasury's delivery reports on departmental performance.
	DFID also makes assessments of its ability to deliver the PSA targets as part of our annual business planning process. Known as directors' delivery plans, the business plans, which are reviewed and amended each autumn: consider progress to date against each of the PSA targets; analyse the mechanisms and structures in place to secure delivery of the targets, making adjustments where necessary; review risk management strategies and set out the activities that will be carried out and the resources that will be required to deliver the targets.

Ethiopia

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the Government are taking on (a) government to government aid for Ethiopia and (b) direct budgetary support following recent events in Ethiopia; what representations he has made within the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK, holding Presidency of the EU, issued a statement on 6 November 2005 expressing grave concern about recent events in Ethiopia, and called for restraint and dialogue. In a separate statement all international donors to Ethiopia, including the UK, announced that they were reviewing their development assistance programmes.
	We have not provided any direct budgetary support to Ethiopia this year, and together with the other budget support donors, we are considering how best to adjust our assistance programme to ensure that poor people are not disadvantaged.

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the Government are making with its plan to establish in Montserrat a positive population policy which promotes population growth and is sensitive to the social and governance impact.

Gareth Thomas: With support from DFID and the European Union, the Montserrat Government have made good progress in several areas to promote the retention of the present population and to encourage the return of Montserratians from overseas. It has increased the level of housing and accommodation provision, increased access to good quality education, improved the quality and scope of health provision, improved air access to the island, and is promoting Montserrat as a safe and stable place to live in. The development of a social and economic hub at Little Bay, together with ongoing and planned efforts to stimulate economic growth, should contribute further to the achievement of this goal.

Parliamentary Questions

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will answer questions (a) 26330, (b) 26328 and (c) 26329 tabled by the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon on 3 November.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. member for Stratford-on-Avon to the responses given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Thomas) on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 57W and on 29 November 2005, Official Report, columns 35657W respectively.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how value for money indicators will be used to measure performance against 2004 public service agreement number 6.

Hilary Benn: The technical note to DFID's 200508 public service agreement provides full details of the indicators and methodologies which will be used to monitor performance against target 6, which focuses on the impact and effectiveness of DFID's bilateral programme. The technical note is available on DFID's website at www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/PSA/technicalnotes.pdf.
	The latest progress against this target, and on all other targets within DFID's PSA, will be reported in the autumn performance report 2005, which will be published later this month.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria he will use to measure the effectiveness of multilateral institutions as required by 2004 public service agreement target number 3.

Hilary Benn: The technical note to DFID's 200508 public service agreement provides full details of the indicators and methodologies which will be used to monitor performance against target 3. The technical note is available on DFID's website at www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/PSA/technicalnotes.pdf.
	The latest progress against this target, and on all other targets within DFID's PSA, will be reported in the autumn performance report 2005, which will be published later this month.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to verify the quality of data used to measure performance against 2004 public service agreement target 2.

Hilary Benn: DFID's public service agreement (PSA) target 2 for the 200508 PSA seeks 'Progress towards the MDGs in nine key countries in Asia'. Detailed progress is measured against five indicators and the PSA Technical Note sets out the various sources of data which underpin these indicators. It can be seen that the information required is drawn from authoritative international data series. Despite every effort to secure accurate data for all PSA focus countries, DFID recognises that there are limitations to the data available for reviewing progress. A detailed note on methodology and data issues is found as an annex to DFID's 2004 Autumn Performance Report (APR) and a similar annex is included within our 2005 APR, which will be published shortly. DFID is at the forefront of the international effort to improve the availability and quality of data for measuring progress towards the MDGs and some of the work we are doing in this area is also mentioned in our APR annex.
	I am pleased to note that the National Audit Office (NAO) is confident that the systems we use to measure progress against this target are sufficiently robust and well explained that they have been awarded a 'green' traffic light in their recent assessment. We are currently looking at comments from a useful report by the Statistics Commission which also looked at the targets used for measuring PSA progress.

Public Service Agreement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the baseline is against which a reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV as required by 2004 public service agreement target 1 is measured.

Hilary Benn: In both the 200306 and 200508 public sector agreements (PSAs), DFID has targets seeking progress towards the millennium development goals (MDGs) in countries in Africa and Asia. For the 200306 PSA baseline positions were set out, however over time, the baselines were revised due to new data becoming available and ongoing work within the international statistical organisations who provide the data we use. In response to this, for the 200508 PSA DFID has not published baseline figures, but rather has set percentage point changes, or directions of travel sought and will make an assessment of progress during the PSA focus period, based on the difference between the prevalence figure for the baseline year (in many cases 2000) given when the assessment is made, and the latest data available. This is explained in the Technical Note which accompanies our PSA.
	The Joint United Nations Programme of HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), is the United Nations body which provides statistical data to measure progress in the area of HIV/AIDS and difficulties with these data are set out in DFID's PSA Technical Note. At the time the Technical Note was written, new data on HIV/AIDS were anticipated. These figures were supplied in 2004 and used in DFID's 2004 Autumn Performance Report. This stated that the average HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women aged 1524 years, in the 11 African countries for which data were available, was 14 per cent., although prevalence rates range from 4 per cent. in Ghana to more than 28 per cent. in Lesotho. Most data in this assessment dated from 2003 and it is likely that this will represent the best baseline position for monitoring against the 200508 PSA. However DFID will continue to monitor methodological work in this area and seek the inclusion of data for the five PSA countries that were not included in the assessment made in 2004.

St. Helena

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason the costings have been removed from the publicly available version of the St. Helena Access Feasibility Study undertaken by Atkins.

Gareth Thomas: Procurement of a suitably qualified contractor for the design, construction and operation of the airport on St. Helena is being taken forward through international competitive tendering. Making available the cost information contained in the Feasibility Study may prejudice the procurement process and compromise our ability to ensure value for money.

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to governments from the (a) G8, (b) EU and (c) OPEC about the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund; and what responses he has received.

Gareth Thomas: An expanded United Nations Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) forms a key element of the wider package of reforms to the international humanitarian system currently under way. A resolution to establish the new CERF is currently under discussion in the UN General Assembly. The G8 Response to the Indian Ocean Disaster issued at Gleneagles 2005 welcomed the work being done on the CERF. The UK is the only G8 member to have made a pledge so far.
	Under the UK presidency, the EU has issued statements at UN events such as the July meeting of the Economic and Social Council, and the World Summit in September, supporting the expanded CERF. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, has continued to discuss this with EU ministerial colleagues. In addition, I addressed the EU Informal Humanitarian Aid Committee in October on the reform package. So far, contributions to the expanded CERF have been pledged by the UK ($70 million), Sweden ($40 million), the Netherlands ($12 million), Ireland ($12 million), and Luxembourg ($4 million).
	In terms of representations to OPEC countries, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia in September, but to date no reply has been received. The UK plans to make representations to Indonesia.

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have pledged funds to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund; and how much each has pledged.

Gareth Thomas: To date a total of $172 million has been pledged from seven countries, including the UK. The UK contribution is $70 million (40 million), and we have undertaken to increase it by $1 for every $3 donated by others, up to a maximum UK contribution of $100 million. The other six countries that have agreed to contribute are Sweden ($40 million), Norway ($30 million over 2 years), the Netherlands ($12 million), Ireland ($12 million), Switzerland ($4 million), and Luxembourg ($4 million).

Uzbekistan

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the circumstances were of the termination of aid projects in Uzbekistan in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Immediately after the events in Andijan in May 2005, DFID suspended, and subsequently terminated, its support to a poverty statistics project being implemented jointly with the World Bank, which involved close co-operation with the central Government. DFID has since decided to end its bilateral programme with effectfrom March 2006 when our remaining bilateral project-working with the UnitedNations Development Programme and local government on a cross-border sustainable livelihoods programme with Tajikistan-comes to an end. Given the policies of the Uzbek government the potential impact on poverty reduction of our small bilateral programme is very limited.
	We will continue to support the work of multilateral agencies in Uzbekistan, particularly the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The EBRD has agreed a new country strategy, limiting its assistance to the private sector. The World Bank and the ADB are in the process of revising their strategies. We are keeping closely in touch with them.
	DFID's regional HIV/AIDS programme in Central Asia, working with the World Bank and other partners and based in the Kyrgyz Republic, will include a component in Uzbekistan, managed by a non-government agency. The programme has just begun, in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and will run to 2008.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits Office Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many crisis loans were issued in (a) Vale of Clwyd constituency and (b) Denbighshire in each week of (i) the six-month period prior to the closure of the Rhyl Benefits Office and (ii) the period since closure.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		Crisis loan initial awards made in Wrexham and North Wales Coast Jobcentre Plus district for each month from April 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 April 516 
			 May 461 
			 June 504 
			 July 479 
			 August 485 
			 September 652 
			 October 612 
			 November 741 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Rhyl Social Security Office closed on 21 October 2005, but social fund applications were no longer processed there after 31 July 2005.
	2.Data is not available by parliamentary constituency or local authority, but only by Jobcentre Plus district.
	3.Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency and Denbighshire local authority are in Wrexham and North Wales Jobcentre Plus district.
	4.Data is not available by week, but only by month.
	5.Initial awards do not include awards made after review.
	Source:
	DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Child Maintenance

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Gravesham constituency are receiving maintenance via the Child Support Agency under the (a) old and (b) new scheme.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available at constituency level.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in respect of how many parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil on the Child Support Agency since 5 May the answers drafted by staff of the Child Support Agency have been altered following advice, representations or comment by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Ministers, special advisors and civil servants in the Department, including the Child Support Agency, contribute to drafting and quality assuring parliamentary question responses. The final reply is then the responsibility of the Minister or chief executive as appropriate.
	The specific information requested is not available.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Child Support Agency staff have been working for the Agency for (a) less than one year and (b) less than two years; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 5 December 2005
	In reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of state promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Child Support Agency staff have been working for the Agency for (a) less than one year and (b) less than two years; and if he will make a statement.
	a) 8.16% of Child Support Agency staff (821.73 full-time equivalent) have been working for the Agency for less than one year.
	b) 14.19% of Child Support Agency staff (1429.24 full-time equivalent) have been working for the Agency for less than 2years.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the failures of the new Child Support Agency computer system on the Government's ability to meet its poverty reduction targets; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of delays in the transfer of old cases to the new system by the Child Support Agency on progress towards the Government's poverty targets.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency contributes to the Government's wider target for the reduction of child poverty through a supporting target to increase the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children.
	Achievement of this supporting target is dependent upon converting old scheme cases to the new scheme.
	The Child Support Agency's chief executive, Stephen Geraghty, is currently undertaking a root and branch review of the Agency. He will report to Ministers and we will make announcements shortly.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process compensation payments made to Child Support Agency clients for administrative errors was in 200405.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 5 December 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken to process compensation payments made to Child Support Agency clients for administrative errors was in 200405.
	Financial redress is made to clients in cases where maladministration has occurred. The Agency does not hold robust information to distinguish administrative errors from other acts of maladministration.
	However, in the 2004/2005 financial year 80% of financial redress payments for maladministered cases were processed within 30 days.
	I hope you find this information useful.

Child Support Agency

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what disability benefits and allowances are taken into account when calculating Child Support Agency maintenance payments under the (a) old and (b) new systems.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The old child support scheme takes fully into account as income payments of incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and certain elements of industrial injuries disablement benefit awards. War disablement pension, and any analogous payment made by another state, is taken into account apart from the first 10 a week.
	Where a non-resident parent is entitled to a relevant benefit and would otherwise be required to pay the minimum amount of child support maintenance, their liability will instead be nil. The relevant disability benefits are incapacity benefit, attendance allowance, severe disablement allowance, disability living allowance and certain elements of industrial injuries disablement benefit.
	The new child support scheme is more straightforward, the amount of a disability benefit or allowance is ignored in the calculation of a non-resident parent's income. Non-resident parents in receipt of a benefit generally pay child support maintenance at a flat-rate of 5 a week.

Child Support Agency

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the backlog of Child Support Agency claims made by claimants in Coventry South was in each month since January 2004.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available at constituency level.

Child Support Agency

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the national targets are for the Child Support Agency; and what the performance of relevant offices in Devon and Cornwall has been against those targets.

James Plaskitt: I would refer the hon. Member to the Child Support Agency's 2005 Business Plan which is held in the House of Commons Library and details the Agency targets.
	I am sorry to say that information requested on performance against targets is not available at constituency level.

Community Employment and Social Solidarity Programme

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005, Official Report, columns 186768W, on the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity, what the budget allocation has been for the programme; and if he will place in the Library copies of publications arising from the programme.

James Plaskitt: Member states have not discussed the programme budget pending settlement of the Financial Perspective, the new EU-wide budget.
	The Decision to establish the programme, includingits eventual budget allocation, is subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The European Commission will publish annual activity reports, plus mid-term and ex-post evaluations of programme spending, outcomes and added value. Where appropriate these will be deposited for further consideration by the scrutiny Committees. Deposited documents and their associated explanatory memoranda provided by the Government are made available to the House Library.

Habitual Residence Test

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 613W on the habitual residence test, whether someone who has paid sufficient national insurance contributions to qualify for contributory benefits is subject to the habitual residence test for non-contributory benefits.

James Plaskitt: Yes; all claims for income-related benefits are subject to the habitual residence test.

Jobcentre Benefit Claims

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the performance of the new case management system for Jobcentre benefit claims.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 5 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the performance of the Customer Management System (CMS) for Jobcentre Plus benefit claims. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Since 2003 Jobcentre Plus has been introducing a new process for taking claims for benefit, supported by CMS. Information to support claims for benefit is gathered from customers through Contact Centres and recorded in CMS, before being transferred, electronically for Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance, to benefit processing IT systems.
	When the system was first introduced, we experienced some difficulties with system performance and reliability. Following a series of performance releases designed to tackle these problems, the computer system now performs to agreed service levels. Since February 2005, there has only been one occasion where a CMS failure has affected all offices and made it necessary to invoke business continuity procedures.
	We have, however, experienced some difficulties in call handling in some of our Contact Centres. Some of our customers have found it difficult to get through on the telephone, and we have had to introduce clerical contingency procedures in a number of sites in order to maintain customer service. This has not been caused by any failure on the part of the computer system itself, but relates to the administrative processes that have been introduced alongside the new computer system.
	Since introducing a number of temporary adjustments to these processes and taking urgent measures to recruit and train staff, there have been encouraging signs of recovery in our call handling. We are keeping the position under review on a site-by-site basis and each site has a plan for returning to the full process, supported by CMS, as quickly as possible.
	I hope this reply has been helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of Jobcentre Plus CMS2 enabled contact centres have been unable to process cases on CMS2 in each of the last 24 months; what the average time taken to start payments (a) from CMS2 contact centres and (b) nationally was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 5 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many CMS2 contact centres have been unable to process cases on CMS2 in each of the last 24 months and the average time taken to start payments from CMS2 contact centres and nationally. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In answering the first part of your question, there are two circumstances where claims would not be processed through CMS:
	1. in the event of a full CMS failure, contingency processes to issue clerical claim forms would be invoked. Information on this has only been recorded from February 2005. There has only been one single day instance between February 2005 and October 2005 where this affected all contact centres; and
	2. when a business decision is taken to ensure that customer service is maintained; for example, a decision to introduce temporary process adjustments. Across all 22 CMS contact centres this happened in:
	August 2005 in 3 contact centres;
	September 2005 in 5 contact centres; and
	October 2005 in 9 contact centres.
	Turning to the second part of your question about the average time to start payments from CMS2 contact centres and nationally, Jobcentre Plus keeps statistics about the number of claims cleared and how long it takes. The statistics only show where the claim was processed, not where it originated so it is not possible to differentiate between claims that have been initiated through CMS2 enabled contact centres and existing service outlets. This means we cannot provide the specific information you have requested.
	I can say, however, that in September, Income Support claims were cleared in an average of 10.8 days against a standard of 12days, Incapacity Benefit claims were cleared in an average of 15.2 days against a standard of 17 days and Jobseeker's Allowance claims were cleared in an average of 13.5 days against a standard of 12 days.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls to Jobcentre Plus contact centres (a) were answered, (b) received an engaged tone and (c) were disconnected in each month from January; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 5 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many calls to Jobcentre Plus contact centres (a)were answered, (b) received an engaged tone and (c) were disconnected in each month from January; and if he will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The table below gives information concerning the number of calls answered by our contact centres each month from January 2005:
	
		
			 2005 Calls answered Number of weeks in month 
		
		
			 January 1,047,410 4 
			 February 987,512 4 
			 March 1,123,918 5 
			 April 974,024 4 
			 May 983,397 4 
			 June 1 ,347,089 5 
			 July 1,068,299 4 
			 August 972,636 4 
			 September 1 ,357,084 5 
			 October 1,082,554 4 
		
	
	When a customer calls they are placed into a queue either until the call is answered or they choose to abandon the call. Customers do not get an engaged tone. The information on disconnected calls is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	I hope this is helpful.

Means-tested Benefits

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the value of unclaimed means tested benefits funded by his Department in (a) each region of the UK and (b) each county within Wales in each of the last five years, broken down by type of benefit.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.
	Estimates of the value of the main income-related benefits unclaimed, that cover income support, minimum income guarantee and income-based jobseeker's allowance, as well as local authority administered housing benefit and council tax benefit, are available on a national basis. Estimates cannot be reliably disaggregated to lower geographies. The latest and previous years' national estimates can be found in the DWP report series entitled: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up; copies of which are available in the Library.

Pension Credit

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of whether extra staff and resources would be required for administration purposes if every pensioner entitled to pension credit applied for it.

Stephen Timms: It is likely that additional staff would be needed to process a higher level of applications and administer a higher number of live awards. No specific estimates have been made of the number of staff and other resources that would be required in the event of full take-up by all entitled pensioners.
	Pension Service staff and resource planning takes into account the planned take-up profile for pension credit.

Pensioners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensioners in Wales receive less than 109 in total for state pensions and benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The information in the following table shows those pensioners in Wales with a total weekly benefit income, including the state pension but excluding all private income, that is less than the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit for singles and couples.
	
		
			  Couples Singles All 
		
		
			 Number of pensioner units 80,000 100,000 170,000 
			 Percentage of family type 50 43 45 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The total weekly benefit income includes pension credit but not income from private pensions.
	2.Data is taken from the Family Resources Survey for years: 200102; 200203; and 200304. The Family Resources Survey is based on around 20,000 households, therefore there is a degree of sampling variation.
	3.Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes.
	4.The standard minimum guarantee in pension credit is equal to 109.45 per week for single pensioners and 167.05 for couples deflated to the appropriate price level for each year of data.
	5.Pensioner couples are where the head of the household is above state pension age.
	6.Number of pensioner units are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Pensioners

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions how many people in Beverley and Holderness are entitled to the basic state pension.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available. However, as at 31 March 2005, there were 20,600 people in the Beverley and Holderness parliamentary constituency in receipt of a basic state pension.
	Notes
	1.Data is taken from 5 per cent. sample therefore figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are also adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the WPLS. 2.Figure is rounded to the nearest 100. 3.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data and PSCS 5 per cent. samples.

Pensions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost implications were in 200405 of deferring the start date for state pension payments until the Monday after an individual's 65th birthday; and what assessment has been made of the effects on the individuals concerned.

Stephen Timms: There are no benefit cost implications in paying state pension in advance and in whole weeks as opposed to paying it in arrears which would allow for part-week payments at the start and end of an award. We have assessed the current policy and have concluded that whatever the circumstances of the individuals concerned. They will always be able to collect a full week's pension within one week of establishing entitlement.

Pensions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions what the basic state pension was in 1997.

Stephen Timms: The basic state pension was 62.45 per week in April 1997. It is now 82.05 per week.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Court Cases

Michael Penning: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average cost of a court case was where prosecution was abandoned in the last year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the legal aid costs were of (a) representation in criminal cases in England and Wales and (b) representation and advice to detained asylum seekers in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The legal aid expenditure for representation in criminal cases for each financial year since 1997 was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200405 971 
			 200304 943 
			 200203 866 
			 200102 773 
			 200001 657 
			 19992000 619 
			 199899 637 
			 199798 596 
		
	
	The Legal Services Commission does not hold information on how much was spent on representation and advice for detained asylum seekers.

Asylum/Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects the immigration appeal of Basamai Abdul Wahab Salih, reference number VA07966/2005, to be heard.

Bridget Prentice: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) has confirmed that the appeal number provided in the question refers to the family visitor appeal of a Ms Basamat Abdulwhab Mohamed Salih. The appellant has requested the appeal be heard on papers.
	A date for the hearing has not yet been set. A notice of pending appeal was issued to parties on 11 November 2005. Under current arrangements, the respondent has up to 11 weeksincluding allowance for international transitto prepare and serve the appeal bundle. Upon receipt of the bundle, such a case would be listed for hearing four weeks hence. On this basis, the AIT would expect to hear this case no later than the end of February 2006.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brent East dated 17 December 2004.

Harriet Harman: My Department does not appear to have received the hon. Member's letter. My officials therefore contacted the hon. Member's office and obtained a copy. The Lord Chancellor will write to the hon. Member soon.

Crown Courts

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of trials in Crown courts were ineffective in each quarter since January 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The following table sets out the proportion of trials in the Crown court which were ineffective in each quarter since June 2001. Data on ineffective trials was not collected before that period.
	
		Proportion of trials in the Crown court that were ineffective since June 2001: England and Wales
		
			  Number of: 
			 Quarter Trials listed Ineffective trials Percentage of ineffective trials 
		
		
			 2001
			 June 12,155 2,943 24.2 
			 September 13,357 3,239 24.2 
			 December 13,048 3,173 24.3 
			 
			 2002
			 March 13,398 3,070 22.9 
			 June 13,133 3,147 24.0 
			 September 14,359 3,291 22.9 
			 December 13,377 3,184 23.8 
			 
			 2003
			 March 14,734 3,236 22.0 
			 June 12,515 2,923 23.4 
			 September 13,201 2,872 21.8 
			 December 11,981 2,362 19.7 
			 
			 2004
			 March 13,584 2,443 18.0 
			 June 11,175 1,912 17.1 
			 September 11,650 1,905 16.4 
			 December 10,788 1,644 15.2 
			 
			 2005
			 March 10,536 1,514 14.4 
			 June 9,854 1,332 13.5 
			 September 9,188 1,269 13.8 
		
	
	Note:
	The data is based on rolling quarters.

Departmental Estate

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which buildings and sites used by her Department and related agencies (a) have ceased to be used in the last year and (b) will be closed under current plans for relocation.

Harriet Harman: My Department has:
	(a) Ceased to use: Stewart House, Kingsway; 6th8thfloors, Southside, London SW1E; and Bradford Combined Court in the past year.
	(b) Southside, London SW1E 1st4th floors will be closed on 24 December 2005 at the end of the lease term.
	Further offices will be closed at the end of their lease terms, after the refurbishment of Queen Anne's Gate, as part of the wider rationalisation of the DCA estate.

Diplock Courts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many court cases the Diplock courts have considered in each year since the Diplock courts were introduced.

Bridget Prentice: Diplock courts were introduced in Northern Ireland in 1973. Statistics relating to the number of defendants dealt with by the Diplock courts have been maintained since 1983. Statistics relating to the number of cases dealt with in the Diplock courts have been maintained from 1986.
	
		Defendants and cases dealt with in the Diplock courts
		
			  Defendants Cases 
		
		
			 1983 432  
			 1984 435  
			 1985 750  
			 1986 622 329 
			 1987 743 354 
			 1988 557 315 
			 1989 461 277 
			 1990 492 265 
			 1991 433 206 
			 1992 418 221 
			 1993 427 256 
			 1994 376 222 
			 1995 453 237 
			 1996 174 110 
			 1997 149 94 
			 1998 177 92 
			 1999 108 73 
			 2000 89 49 
			 2001 62 45 
			 2002 113 72 
			 2003 110 71 
			 2004 77 65

Disability Discrimination (Legal Aid)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many individuals have (a) applied for and (b) been granted legal aid for action against (i) employers, (ii) transport providers and (iii) providers of goods and services for failure to comply with disability discrimination legislation.

Bridget Prentice: Records held by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) only record the category of law to which a proceeding relates rather than the category of business against which the action was taken. Therefore, the LSC can only provide details about Disability Discrimination Act proceedings in the categories of employment, housing and public law. In the last three full financial years 106 certificates were granted within these categories.

European Court of Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the cases before the European Court of Human Rights since 1 January 1976 which have been brought against the United Kingdom, indicating in each case whether a finding of a violation of the Convention on Human Rights occurred; which Articles of the Convention were cited in each application as having been breached; what action has been taken to implement the ruling in each successful case; in respect of which successful cases the ruling has not been fully implemented; what the obstacles are to full implementation of each such ruling; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Records have not been kept of all cases brought against the United Kingdom since 1976. There are currently 60 judgments given against the United Kingdom which require implementation by the Government. Information on those cases is not held centrally, but we are taking action to obtain and collate it. We expect to provide a list giving details of progress towards implementation in each case before Parliament rises for Christmas.

Gender Recognition Certificates

Evan Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for gender recognition certificates (a) she has received, (b) have been approved, (c) have come from overseas and (d) have come from overseas and have been approved.

Harriet Harman: The information requested is as follows:
	In total, 1,123 applications have been received and 863 full gender recognition certificates have been issued.
	Included in the totals above are 28 applications made on the basis of having changed gender under the law of another country or territory outside the United Kingdom, in respect of which 15 full certificates have been issued.

General Election (Kettering)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs why the complete marked register for Kettering constituency from the 2005 General Election is not yet available.

Harriet Harman: Pickfords Records Management, who administer the supply of copies of the marked registers, have informed us that after receiving notice on 21 November 2005 that the marked register for Kettering was not complete, located the missing pages on 25 November 2005. These are now being processed.
	The missing pages were located in a sack of election documents, separate from the bulk of the marked register. Guidance was issued to returning officers before the 5 May General Election, that marked registers should be stored in the first numbered sack only.

Inquests

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquests are outstanding in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Greater London and (d) Hertfordshire; and how many have been waiting more than (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five years since death occurred.

Harriet Harman: I am obtaining this information from the 10 coroners concerned and will then write to the hon. Member. A copy of my reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Kettering Magistrates Court

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many warrants were issued from Kettering magistrates courtfor the arrest of non-attendees in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: Figures for failure to appear warrants are only available for Kettering magistrates court from 2003. The figures to date for police failure to appear warrants are (a) 345 for 2003 (b) 311 for 2004 and (c) 162 1 for 2005.
	1 Figure up to 29 November 2005.

Legal Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of legal aid for asylum seekers for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will list the 10 companies in receipt of most aid.

Bridget Prentice: It Is not possible to separate spend on asylum from this overall category of Immigration and Asylum. Expenditure on legal aid for Immigration and Asylum matters in 200405 came to 171 million. Nor is it possible to estimate the cost of legal aid in other matters for those seeking asylum, for example, public law, crime, and clinical negligence.
	I will write to the hon. Member when the Legal Services Commission has verified amounts paid to the 10 suppliers in receipt of the most funds.

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors have been referred by the Law Society to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in the last three years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The Law Society has provided information on the total number of referrals to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for the last three years. The data are set out in the following:
	
		
			  2003 2004 2005(40) 
		
		
			 Decision
			 Strike off 57 51 52 
			 Suspend 41 38 37 
			 Fine 73 68 48 
			 Other Decision(41) 48 55 39 
			 Total number of referrals 219 212 176 
		
	
	(40)To 31 October 2005.
	(41)Other decisions include: appeals allowed, appeals dismissed, costs only with no penalty being imposed except to pay costs of theapplication to the tribunal, no order was imposed, a minor reprimand being given and withdrawal of the application.

Southend Magistracy

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women (i) applied to join, (ii) were appointed to and (iii) left the Southend magistracy in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: Applications to join the magistracy are made to the applicant's local advisory committee who recommend candidates for the local justice areas for which they are responsible. The number of men and women appointed to and leaving the Southend magistracy in each of the last five years is shown in the following table 1 .
	1 The figures shown are for the South East Essex Local Justice Area which covers the court that sits at Southend.
	
		
			  Men appointed(42) Women appointed(42) Men leaving(43) Women leaving(43) 
		
		
			 2001 1 2 7 7 
			 2002 3 2 8 7 
			 2003 2 3 8 4 
			 2004 5 1 0 4 
			 2005 (to date) 4 4 0 4 
		
	
	(42)Including transfers into the Bench.
	(43)Including resignations, retirements, transfers out and deaths.

State Prayers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions Ministers have had with (a) the Royal Household, (b) the Archbishop of Canterbury and (c) officials at Clarence House on varying the State prayers; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: It is the long-established custom that communications between Ministers and the Royal Households remain confidential. There has been no discussion between Ministers and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

State Prayers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is intended that a court warrant will be issued adding a name to the State prayers; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Government has no plans to do so.

Tamworth Magistrates Court

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many arrest warrants were issued from Tamworth magistrates court for the arrest of non-attendees resident in Tamworth constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: Figures are only available for south Staffordshire. The number of police warrants for non-attendance issued for the south Staffordshire magistrates courts of Tamworth, Stafford, Cannock and Burton on Trent between October 2004 and October 2005 was 1,440. The figures are not broken down by the defendant's residence.

Voting Age

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Government's policy is on lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 years for (a) local, (b) parliamentary and (c) European elections.

Harriet Harman: The Government intends to keep the minimum age of voting under review.

HEALTH

Alcohol-related Hospital Admissions

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of attendances at accident and emergency departments were alcohol-related in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Reasons for attendances at accident and emergency departments are not collected centrally. However, data are collected on emergency admissions. The percentage of all alcohol-related emergency admissions has fallen from 1.2 per cent. in 19992000 to 1 per cent. in 200304.

Alliance Medical

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2810W, on Alliance Medical, when she envisages the new data reporting system will be in place; and at what cost.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The new diagnostic data collection will start across England in January 2006. It will enable the national health service to track progress towards meeting the Government's election pledge of a maximum wait of no more than 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to the start of hospital treatment. It will identify areas requiring focused attention and assist diagnostics capacity planning for future years.
	The Department estimates that, once the initial implementation stage is complete and being submitted through Unify, the Department's new system designed to capture and analyse NHS performance data, the cost burden on the NHS will be lower than for existing monthly returns.

Ambulance Response Times

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact on ambulance response times in Warrington of creating a single North-West Ambulance Trust.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 November 2005
	Ambulance trusts in England are expected to meet national requirements on response times to 999 calls. If our proposals to reconfigure ambulance trusts are accepted, national response time requirements will be unchanged.

Cataract Units

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether funding projections for trusts will take account of take-up rates by patients at independent treatment scheme cataract units.

Liam Byrne: Patient referral levels to independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) have been estimated and agreed by primary care trusts (PCTs). These form a key part of the contracts with ISTC providers, to which PCTs are party. The financial cost at national health service tariff of the projected referrals should be included by PCTs in their financial projections.

Cheshire and Merseyside Health Authority

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of running the Cheshire and Merseyside health authority has been in each year since it was set up.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 November 2005
	The Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority has received allocations for its running costs of 4.7 million in 200304, 5.1 million in 200405 and 5.4 million in 200506.

Clinical Negligence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many successful claims of clinical negligence were made against each hospital in hospital trusts in the Lancashire strategic health authority in 200405; and what the total cost of all successful claims was against each hospital.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	The number of successful clinical negligence claims made against hospital trusts in Lancashire strategic health authority (SHA) in 200405; and the total cost of all successful claims against each hospital trust is shown in the following table.
	
		Number of successful clinical negligence claims made against hospital trusts in Cumbria and Lancashire SHA in 200405 and their total cost
		
			 Hospital Number of claims Total cost () 
		
		
			 Burnley general hospital (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust) 1 4,250 
			 Royal Preston hospital (Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) 1 15,700 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Litigation Authority

Clinical Services Review (East Lancashire)

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations with clinicians have taken place as part of the review of clinical services being undertaken by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	This is a matter for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust.

Clinical Services Review (East Lancashire)

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library the evidence presented to the review of clinical services being undertaken by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	This is a matter for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust. The Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority report that evidence is still being submitted to the current review of clinical services and that the trust intends to publish this early next year.

Contrast Thermal Imaging

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS centres in England have contrast thermal imaging equipment; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Diagnostic Scans

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons healthcare providers operating existing NHS scanners are unable to meet the demand for diagnostic scans in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 October 2005
	Independent sector diagnostic scanning activity has been procured to meet the immediate need for additional workforce and imaging capacity to treat national health service patients and to enable the Government to deliver their election manifesto pledge to deliver a maximum wait of 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to hospital treatment by 2008.
	As well as making selective use of the independent sector, the Government are also tackling the shortage of radiographers in the NHS. The pledges in the NHS Plan to train and recruit more therapists and other health professionals have been delivered and we expect that there will be 30,000 more therapists and scientists, including radiographers, employed in the NHS by 2008 than there were in 2001.

Flu Pandemic

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) mortuary and (b) crematoria capacity is estimated to be adequate for dealing with the anticipated increase in death rates during an influenza pandemic.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	Work is being taken forward on the capacity of local mortuaries and crematoria within the theoretical projections in the UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan. An assessment will be put to Ministers before the end of the year.

Foundation Hospitals

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foundation hospitals plan to commission services from the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: National health service foundation trusts (NHSFTs) are free to enter into arrangements with third parties at their own discretion, subject to the terms of their authorisation issued by Monitor and the cap on private patient activity set out in legislation. If NHSFTs wish to collaborate with third parties to the benefit of NHS patients, they are free to do so subject to these constraints.

General Practice

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2163W, on general practitioners' contracts, when she expects the NHS employers organisation to report back.

Liam Byrne: Negotiations are progressing and it is hoped that the first phase of the contract review will be completed before Christmas, with any changes being implemented from April 2006.

Glass Injuries

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients received treatment for incidents involving stabbing and laceration by glass in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many of these incidents were alcohol-related.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 22 November 2005
	There were 4,772 finished admission episodes due to assault by a sharp object in 200304. It is not possible to identify how many of these incidents involved stabbing and laceration by glass, nor is it possible to identify how many were alcohol related.

Healthcare Professionals Recruitment

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, columns 116970W, on healthcare professionals recruitment, 
	(1)  what sanctions (a) are available and (b) have been used in cases in which a breach of the code of practice on the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals has been identified;
	(2)  how many breaches of the code of practice have been identified by NHS employers; how many of these have led to penalties (a) after the code of practice was first published and (b) since it was revised in December 2004;
	(3)  what discussions her Department has had with NHS employers on the effectiveness of the monitoring of compliance with the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals; and what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) systems of monitoring used and (b) steps taken by NHS employers to ensure compliance with the code of practice.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 November 2005
	NHS Employers are responsible for monitoring the code of practice, investigating alleged breaches of the code and applying any appropriate sanctions. The latter can include investigation and removal from the list of agencies adhering to the code of practice. The Department receives regular reports on compliance with the code from NHS Employers and holds regular review meetings with NHS Employers on the operation of the code. There is routine liaison between officials of the Department and NHS Employers. To date, 11 agencies have been removed from the list for breaches of the code.

Hospital Finances

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date her Department instructed strategic health authorities to review the financial stability of every hospital; and what deadline she has set to receive responses.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 November 2005
	I would like to refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 5WS.

Hospital Trusts

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 688W, on hospital trusts, what account will be taken of the interdependency of accident and emergency with other hospital departments when deciding whether departments will be closed; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Decisions about service reconfiguration are a matter for the national health service locally. Patients will increasingly influence such decisions as they exercise their new abilities to choose where their treatment takes place. However, this Government are committed to maintaining a national accident and emergency service and we expect the NHS to take into account the impact of reconfiguring interdependent services when making such decisions.

Independent Treatment Centres

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is planning to take to ensure that independent treatment centres work to their optimum capacity.

Liam Byrne: Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) are intended to build capacity to treat national health service patients as quickly and effectively as possible. Primary care trusts (PCTs) have signed up to referral levels in contract for all wave one ISTCs. Optimising the use of this capacity is a matter for PCTs under contract. In the future, the decision whether or not patients are referred to an independent sector provider will be down to the choice of individual patients and service providers and commissioners will need to respond accordingly.

Information Technology

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on schemes to install centralised information technology systems for patient care in the NHS since 1997.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 November 2005
	Funds for information management and technology systems are included in general allocations to the national health service. Until 2003, comprehensive information about actual spend across the NHS was not collected centrally. Since then, this information has been available from revenue expenditure reported through an annual national survey of NHS bodies, and capital expenditure identified from NHS accounts, and is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 928 
			 200304 1,128 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures do not include expenditure on software licenses, expenditure by special health authorities, or central expenditure through the Department.
	2. In both years a small number of NHS bodies failed to complete survey returns. The revenue component has been projected to 100 per cent, response in each case.
	Comparable information for 200405 is not yet available.
	In addition, NHS Connecting for Health is managing contracts to the value of 6.2 billion for the national programme for information technology in the NHS in the period 200210 above the ongoing NHS baseline expenditure. To date, 234 million has been paid to the programme's principal contractors.

Intensive Care

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds are available in East Lancashire; what the occupancy rates of these beds was in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment she has made of the future requirement for intensive care beds in the sub-region.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	There were, on average, 38 intensive care beds available in 200405 at the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust. The occupancy rate was 70.4 per cent.
	The trust is currently conducting a review of clinical services.
	Source: Department of Health H KH03 statistical returns.
	Note: Ward classifications-intensive care: neonates, intensive care: paediatrics and intensive care: wholly or mainly adult have been grouped to form intensive care beds.

Maternity Care

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to improve the range of choices available to women who wish to receive one-to-one maternity care.

Liam Byrne: The maternity standard of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services requires maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that the range of ante-natal, birth and post-birth care services available locally constitutes real choice for women including the offer of support from a named midwife throughout pregnancy. It also advocates that all women are able to contact a midwife day or night at any stage in pregnancy if they have concerns.
	In its manifesto commitment, the Government made a commitment that
	by 2009 all women will have choice over where and how they have their baby and what pain relief to use. We want every woman to be supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy. Support will be linked closely to other services that will be provided in Children's Centre.
	We have put in place a concentrated work programme to support implementation of the both the manifesto commitment and the maternity standard.

Medical Consultation Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of (a) a general practitioner consultation, (b) an attendance at accident and emergency and (c) a consultation at an NHS walk-in-centre was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: This data is not routinely collected centrally. The latest available estimates are contained in the 2004 National Audit Office report, 'Improving Emergency Care in England'. This report estimates that a general practice consultation costs about 15, a presentation at an established national health service walk-in centre between 20 and 30 which is based on 2002 data, and an attendance at an accident and emergency department around 55 to 60. The full report is available in the Library.

Ophthalmic Operations

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations carried out by the private sector led to a reduction in such NHS operations.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 October 2005
	Centrally procured independent sector mobile cataract units have carried out over 17,500 procedures to date on national health service patients, increasing NHS capacity and helping to reduce long waiting times. In the past, these patients would have faced a much longer wait for their operations in NHS facilities.

Patient Advice and Liaison Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with (a) Patient Advice and Liaison Services and (b) other patient and public involvement organisations on advising individuals on Choose and Book.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 October 2005
	NHS Connecting for Health's choose and book patient reference group, which meets once every six to eight weeks, is comprised of patient and public involvement forum members. Through this mechanism, they have been supporting the development of the choose and book service since May 2004. In addition, the Plain English Campaign and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) are involved in reviewing choose and book related communications.
	Since February 2003, the choose and book joint programme board has met on a six weekly basis. The board is an important part of the governance arrangements for choose and book. The chief executive of the National Association for Patient Participation is a member of this board and attends these meetings.
	The Department has also issued guidance to primary care trusts, which advises them to engage their local PALS, libraries and existing patient and public involvement organisations with providing information and support to patients offered choice through the choose and book service or other routes.

Patient Advice and Liaison Services

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the (a) quality, (b) consistency and (c) impact on equity of access to treatment for patients of the service provided by patient care advisers; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Evaluations of the two largest choice pilots recognised the importance of patient care advisers (PCAs) to support and advise patients through choice and ensure equitable access. These showed that patients appreciated the role of PCAs, with over 93 per cent. of patients in London rating the PCAs quality of service as good, very good, or excellent. In addition, in London the evaluation found that the equity of access to choice was achieved in particular by providing support through PCAs to patients who needed help finding their way through the system.

Primary Care Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Government have received on their proposals to involve the private sector in managing primary care services.

Liam Byrne: The Government have not made any proposals to involve the private sector in managing primary care services.

Private Sector Transfers

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the NHS facilities in each region which are being considered for transfer to private sector management in the current round of tendering.

Liam Byrne: No facilities will be transferred. As part of the elective phase two procurement programme, strategic health authorities (SHAs) with primary care trusts proposed facilities which could be leased to the independent sector for the provision of elective surgery. Final decisions about which sites are used will not be made until the procurement process has ended. The specific facilities identified by SHAs include those shown in the table.
	
		
			 SHAs Proposed facilities 
		
		
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Birmingham City Treatment Centre 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Facilities in Whiston, Clatterbridge and Warrington (renal dialysis) 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight New Forest Lymington 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Facilities at Hull, Scunthorpe, Scarborough and Grimsby (renal dialysis) 
			 North West London Ravenscourt Park 
			 South West Peninsula Scope for provider to utilise spare surgical capacity at the following NHS hospitals: Axminster, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Tavistock. 
			 South Yorkshire Catheter laboratories at Rotherham and Barnsley. 
			 West Yorkshire Facilities at Bradford and Skipton (renal dialysis)

Quality and Outcomes Framework

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhether the outcome of the review of the quality and outcomes framework will allow GPs to have theirperformance measured against specific local indicators.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 November 2005
	The quality and outcomes framework is a national agreement as part of the general medical services contract, but primary care trusts are able to make local agreements with practices, in addition to those contained in the framework.

Reconfigurations

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she uses to decide whether to refer disputed health service reconfigurations to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel; and how many such cases are awaiting her decision.

Liam Byrne: When the Secretary of State receives a referral of a decision from an overview and scrutiny committee she has an option of seeking advice from the independent reconfiguration panel if she considers. She needs further independent advice before making a final decision. Currently, there are three cases awaiting her decision.

Rehabilitation (Visually Impaired People)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures are in place to ensure that rehabilitation services for visually impaired people are made available to those who need them;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure that rehabilitation services for visually impaired people are made available to those who need them.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 28 November 2005
	Rehabilitation services for blind and partially sighted people are provided by local health and social care bodies. It is for those organisations to commission appropriate services based on local need. This would include the number and training of teams available to provide rehabilitation for blind and partially sighted people.

Scanning Services

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether private providers under the new contract to provide diagnostic scans will be able to use (a) NHS equipment and (b) NHS staff to provide the scans; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The diagnostic capacity being procured is intended to be additional to national health service capacity but independent sector providers may be able to lease unused or surplus NHS equipment to treat NHS patients. Under revised additionality rules, NHS staff in shortage specialisms may offer independent sector providers their non-contracted hours, subject to the permission of the employing trust and adherence to safe working practices.

Vaccinations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what numbers of vaccinations for children triggered top rate vaccine payments to general practitioners in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the form requested.
	In 2004, 93 per cent. of practices achieved the higher target payment of 90 per cent.
	Coverage levels at 12 months of age increased slightly compared to the previous quarter, October to December 2004, and are now around 91 per cent.. At 24 months, uptake for all vaccines were between 93 per cent. and 94 per cent. Coverage with measles, mumps and rubella at 24 months has increased by 2.2 per cent. to 83 per cent. for April to June 2005, compared with the previous quarter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ambulances

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ambulances are available to each hospital in Northern Ireland; and how many were available in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) 2005.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service provides a regional emergency and non-emergency ambulance service deployed from 32 stations throughout Northern Ireland. Ambulances are not allocated to individual hospitals, as these are not always the best points from which to deploy ambulances to reach patients in the shortest possible time.
	However, the total number of ambulances available is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 220 
			 2000 225 
			 2005 243 
		
	
	Information on the number of ambulances in 1990 is not readily available.

Animal Feeds

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of animal feeds was to farmers in Northern Ireland in the 200405 financial year.

Angela Smith: The total cost of feedstuffs to Northern Ireland farmers in 200405 was 363 million. Of this, 318 million was compound feed.

CAP

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government, at the time that modulation was introduced for direct common agricultural policy subsidies in 2001, gave a commitment to provide an equal amount of national match funding in the form of co-financing; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: When the decision to apply modulation from 2001 was made at the end of 1999, Government indicated that it would provide an equal amount of additional national match funding. Since then, the additions to the Northern Ireland Block in respect of match funding have been made with that objective in mind.

CAP

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much match funded money in relation to common agricultural policy subsidies has been raised within Northern Ireland since modulation was introduced in 2001.

Angela Smith: The amount of modulation match funding allocated to the Northern Ireland block since 200102 was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200102 3.9 
			 200203 5.2 
			 200304 6.1 
			 200405 6.1 
			 200506 17.8

CAP

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much national match funded money has been awarded by the Government in relation to common agricultural policy subsidies in each year since modulation was introduced in 2001.

Angela Smith: Expenditure of modulation match funding in Northern Ireland in each year since 200102 was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200102 0.15 
			 200203 0.62 
			 200304 1.36 
			 200405 1.97 
			 200506 (to date) 0.96

Centenarians

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many centenarians live in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: There were estimated 1 to be about 170 centenarians (aged 100 and over) resident in Northern Ireland at 30 June 2004.
	Source:
	1 Government Actuary's Department

Community Relations

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the timetable is for the re-launch and implementation of the shared future strategy for improving community relations in Northern Ireland; and what resources have been allocated to this strategy in 200607.

Angela Smith: The plan is to re-launch the Shared Future policy and strategic framework before March 2006. As part of the re-launch we will set out in a Triennial Action plan the key actions to meet the policy objectives.
	At its core the policy is about promoting sharing over separation. Its aim is to establish over time a normal, civic society, in which all individuals are considered as equals, where differences are resolved through dialogue in the public sphere, and where all people are treated impartially.
	The Triennial Action plan will aim to ensure, over time, that all expenditure is designed to promote sharing over separation. In the interim, and in the run up to the comprehensive spending review, the planned expenditure in 200607 on community relations/good relations activities across departments, which is about 15 million, will be specifically used to support the objectives of a shared future.

Cyclists

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many cyclists have been (a) charged and (b) convicted in Northern Ireland ofneglect of traffic regulations in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	Table 1 provides details of how many cyclists were reported for prosecution in Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 2004 to 31 October 2005 (1 April 2004 being the earliest date for which this data is available).
	Table 2 provides figures for the number of cyclists convicted in Northern Ireland of neglect of traffic regulations from 19992003 (the most recent year for which statistics are available).
	
		Table 1
		
			  Number recorded 
		
		
			 1 April 200431 March 2005 71 
			 1 April 200531 October 2005 20 
		
	
	
		Table 2(44)
		
			  Number of convictions 
		
		
			 1999 5 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 5 
			 2003 2 
			 Total 17 
		
	
	(44) Convictions in table 2 were for the specific offences of 'cycling without due care and attention', 'cycling without reasonable consideration', 'cycling when unfit through drink or drugs', 'no lights on pedal cycle' and 'failing to wear protective headgear'.

Electricity Supply

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Northern Ireland Electricity regarding the possibility of disruption to the electricity supply in the event of severe winter conditions over the next few months.

Angela Smith: My officials are in regular contact with Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) about the maintenance of the electricity supply in Northern Ireland.
	NIE is confident that it has a network and response capability sufficiently robust to meet our winter needs, and that there is access to sufficient stocks of generating fuels or alternatives at the power stations to avoid disruption in supply over the winter months.

Electrical Apprenticeships

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms are of the Electrical Training Trust's contract to manage all entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship Programme in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Electrical Training Trust's (ETT) contract is to manage all entrants to electrical installation on the Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship programme in Northern Ireland is in line with terms and conditions contained in all training organisation contracts managing the Jobskills programme. The contract covers areas such as: proper financial accounting for public funds; skills and experience of delivery staff; health and safety; and insurance and liability issues.

Electrical Apprenticeships

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electrical installation modern apprenticeship trainees there were (a) for each location and (b) for each provider in each year since 1996 in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Data for the period 199698 is not available because of disproportionate cost. Since 1998 the Electrical Training Trust (ETT) is the training provider which has been contracted by the Department to manage all entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills Modern Apprenticeship programme. The following table provides details on the number of young people, by geographical area, starting each year.
	
		
			 Area 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506(45) Total 
		
		
			 Antrim 28 28 12 11 9 12 10 110 
			 Armagh 50 36 19 11 16 25 18 175 
			 Augher 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Aughnacloy 0 0 1 1  2 4 8 
			 Ballycastle 0 6 7 5 4 1 2 25 
			 Ballyclare 2 10 3 5 2 2 3 27 
			 Ballymena 36 41 36 34 32 33 28 240 
			 Ballymoney 10 16 7 6 8 5 10 62 
			 Ballynahinch 13 14 10 3 5 7 2 54 
			 Banbridge 4 16 6 9 10 6 7 58 
			 Bangor 8 22 11 11 8 12 12 84 
			 Belfast 65 108 40 26 44 27 31 341 
			 Bushmills 0 4 5 1 1 0 0 11 
			 Caledon 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Carrickfergus 10 6 1 4 9 8 5 43 
			 Castlederg 11 2 4 4 6 7 2 36 
			 Castlewellan 6 12 4 0 2 3 3 30 
			 Clogher 4 2 0 0 2 0 2 10 
			 Coleraine 18 24 5 12 6 3 4 72 
			 Cookstown 18 20 9 9 5 3 7 71 
			 Craigavon 34 36 19 26 21 22 17 175 
			 Crumlin 8 2 1 4 1 3 1 20 
			 Derry 42 44 19 22 15 15 6 163 
			 Donaghadee 0 6  1 1 0 2 10 
			 Downpatrick 16 18 12 7 7 10 7 77 
			 Dromore 2 6 3 2 3 2 2 20 
			 Dungannon 34 44 27 32 31 20 22 210 
			 Enniskillen 42 45 20 13 32 29 13 194 
			 Fivemiletown 2 2 1 2 0 0 1 8 
			 Hillsborough 6 4 0 1 0 4 0 15 
			 Holywood 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 6 
			 Larne 4 10 3 3 8 2 0 30 
			 Limavady 22 16 11 10 15 6 8 88 
			 Lisburn 4 4 9 9 7 12 2 47 
			 Maghera 20 12 9 6 2 8 3 60 
			 Magherafelt 34 28 15 14 21 15 11 138 
			 Newcastle 10 2 3 3 4 1 2 25 
			 Newry 74 60 49 40 44 29 31 327 
			 Newtownabbey 19 23 12 13 5 13 11 96 
			 Newtownards 32 47 15 18 14 13 14 153 
			 Omagh 40 53 23 33 23 23 24 219 
			 Portrush 0 0 4 1 1 0 0 6 
			 Portstewart 0 4 1 2 1 0 1 9 
			 Strabane 2 10 5 3 8 12 3 43 
			 Total 734 847 441 418 433 396 332 3,601 
		
	
	(45) Figures are up to 28 October 2005 for 200506 cohort.

Electrical Apprenticeships

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reduced availability of electrical installation modern apprenticeships in Derry and the North West of Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: There has been an overall reduction in the number of entrants to the electrical installation Jobskills modern apprenticeship over the past number of years, in particular in the North West of Northern Ireland. While there has been no change in the contract delivery arrangements, it is recognised that there has been a shift in the economic climate which has contributed to a reduction in the overall employer base in the North West. However, I will wish to inquire further and will write to the hon. Gentleman.

Energy Efficiency

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what energy efficiency measures have been taken by Government Department offices in Northern Ireland in 2005.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland Departments have adopted the targets for improvements in energy performance contained in the 2003 Government White Paper Our energy futurecreating a low carbon economy. Departments are accommodated in buildings provided and managed by the Department of Finance and Personnel, which conducts a continuous programme of improvements of building energy performance in pursuit of the aforementioned targets.
	Since 2003, within the office estate planned actions have included conducting surveys to identify and implement cost-effective energy conservation measures; converting suitable buildings from oil or electric heating to natural gas; and purchasing green electricity, where this represents value for money. Similar actions have been taken in the specialised buildings within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
	The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) also manages the Public Sector Energy Campaign, monitoring energy use in all public buildings, and providing energy performance returns to Departments for attention. DFP also manages the Central Energy Efficiency Fund which provides financial support for the introduction of cost-effective measures for reducing carbon emissions from public buildings.
	Official vehicle fleets are now generally diesel fuelled, and the official car pool has purchased two petrol/electric hybrid cars. Local plans are also in place covering car travel.

Executive Programme Funds

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reinstate the Executive Programme Funds which were abolished in 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 1980W.

Hypothermia

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland over the age of 65 years died as a result of winter cold weather in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: For the years 2000 to 2004, the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland of people aged 65 and over, where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate, is presented in the following table.
	
		Registered number of deaths of people aged 65 and over, with a mention of hypothermia(46) Northern Ireland, 200004
		
			  Deaths with mention of hypothermia 
		
		
			 2000 8 
			 2001 11 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 8 
		
	
	(46) Deaths with a mention of hypothermia defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 991.6 for the year 2000 and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i) integrating the proposed identity card scheme into his Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within his Department.

Peter Hain: At this stage, the Northern Ireland Office does not plan to make any estimate of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees. The Identity Cards Bill makes clear that the use of the ID cards scheme by devolved administrations is a matter for them. The business case makes no assumptions that the scheme will be used for services which are the responsibility of devolved administrations.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has made a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

Angela Smith: A written submission was sent by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland to the Lyons Inquiry in November 2004 outlining the policy proposals for reform of the domestic rating system in Northern Ireland.

ME

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he takes to monitor the balance of research findings in the field of myalgic encephalomyelitis in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a relatively poorly understood disorder which produces a broad range of symptoms and disabilities and has various suggested causes and treatments. As such research in the field of myalgic encephalomyelitis is extensive and varied in both approach and results.
	The Department, in considering research findings for specific conditions and their potential implications, is informed by the views of the relevant professional and clinical standard setting bodies.

Medicine (Imports and Exports)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much medicine was (a) imported and (b) exported by Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The value and weight of the medicine that was (a) imported and (b) exported by Northern Ireland in each of the last three years is included in the following table.
	
		Imports and exports of medicines(47)(5508480048), by Northern Ireland(49)
		
			  Value (000) Weight (Kg 000) 
		
		
			 Exports   
			 2002 73,461 4,196 
			 2003 97,834 13,907 
			 2004 99,428 9,056 
			
			 Imports   
			 2002 13,253 456 
			 2003 11,985 521 
			 2004 15,566 556 
		
	
	(47) Figures are combined EU and non-EU.
	(48) Trade included covers pharmaceutical products classified as Medicaments (CN4 3003 and CN3004).
	(49) Figures refer to trade imported into or exported from any part of the UK by traders registered to addresses in Northern Ireland.
	Source:
	Regional Trade Statistics, HM Revenue and Customs

Military Bases

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Northern Ireland what the total cost to the public purse of care and maintenance for the (a) Ebrington and (b) Fort George military bases in Londonderry has been since the Army handed over both sites to ILEX.

Angela Smith: Since taking ownership of the Ebrington and Fort George sites in Londonderry the total cost to the public purse of care and maintenance has been 968,183 and nil respectively.

Pregnancy-related Deaths

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women aged (a) 14 to 16 years, (b) 17 to 21 years, (c) 22 to 24 years, (d) 25 to 30 years, (e) 31 to 35 years and (f) 36 to 40 years have died from pregnancy-related diseases in Northern Ireland in each year since 1980.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland by age of deceased in each year between 1980 and 2004, where the underlying cause of death related to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium 1 .
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes OOO to O99 for years 20012004 and Ninth Revision codes 630 to 676 for years 19802000.
	
		Number of maternal deaths registered in Northern Ireland, by age group, 19802004
		
			 Year of registration Age group in years of deceased 
			  14 to 16 17 to 21 22 to 24 25 to 30 31 to 35 36 to 40 
		
		
			 1980 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1981 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 1982 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 1983 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1984 0 0 0 0 2 1 
			 1985 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1987 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1988 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 1989 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1991 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1993 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1994 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1995 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1996 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 2003 0 1 0 1 1 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 1

Telecare Scheme

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase funding in Northern Ireland for the telecare scheme to equal the average per capita spending in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Shaun Woodward: The Department does not make a specific allocation of funding for the provision of telecare services. The HPSS will receive almost 450 million of additional funding over the next two years and HPSS boards must balance a wide range of health priorities ensuring that priority is given to meeting the Department's PSA commitments. It is for boards to identify the most appropriate and cost effective means of delivering their health and social care services, including the provision of telecare where deemed fitting.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Government departments in Northern Ireland which have received advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers on their business strategies and e-Government requirements; and what the timeline of the contracts was in each case.

Angela Smith: The details of the Government Departments in Northern Ireland which received advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers on their e-business strategies and e-government requirements in the last five years are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Department/contract details Award date Contract period 
		
		
			 DRD   
			 e Business Strategies February 2001 2 months 
			 e-procurement for Goods and Services (Business case) May 2004 2 months 
			
			 DOE   
			 e Business Strategies February 2001 2 months 
			
			 DFP   
			 e Business Strategies April 2001 2 months 
			 Accounting Services Review April 2002 Ongoing 
			
			 DCAL   
			 e Business Strategies April 2001 2 months 
			
			 OFMDFM   
			 e Business Strategies June 2001 2 months 
			 Review of Mission Critical ICT Projects in the NICS August 2003 8 months 
			 e-Participation Scoping Study September 2003 10 months 
			
			 DETI   
			 e Business Strategy Review July 2003 3 months 
			 Insolvency e-business June 2004 6 months 
			 INI e-business training programme May 2004 12 months 
			
			 DENI   
			 Information Strategy for Education Sector January 2000 2 months 
			 Information Needs Analysis November 2002 4 months 
			 Information Strategy for Education and Library Boards. January 2002 2 months 
			 Update IS and e-business strategy May 2003 9 months 
			 ICT GovernanceEducation Service February 2004 8 months 
			
			 DHSSPS   
			 Outline Business Case for three ICT projects for Health and Personal Social Services Business Systems Review programme October 2002 2 years 
			  March 2003 2 years 
		
	
	Key for Departments:
	DRDDepartment for Regional Development
	DOEDepartment of Environment
	DFPDepartment of Finance and Personnel
	DCALDepartment of Culture, Arts and Leisure
	OFMDFMOffice of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
	DETIDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
	DENIDepartment of Education
	DHSSPSDepartment of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Rates Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Valuation and Lands Agency has made of whether a police presence will be required in some circumstances for inspectors wishing to inspect a property for valuation purposes as part of the rates revaluation in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Valuation and Lands Agency has trained risk assessors familiar with the risks in each area of its operations. Risk assessments are carried out on a regular basis as well as in response to changes in circumstances or the operational environment.
	There has been no separate assessment made of whether a police presence would be required to facilitate the inspection of any property as part of the rates revaluation.

Rates Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether the Government expects that pensioners participating in a deferred rates payment system would have a charge placed on their home; and how such a charge would be prioritised on the death of the pensioner relative to their other liabilities;
	(2)  whether the Government expects that pensioners participating in a deferred rates payment system would pay interest on the deferred payment;
	(3)  if he will publish the preliminary analysis that the Government has drafted on how a deferred payment scheme for pensioners would operate in relation to the draft Rates (Capital Values, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.

Angela Smith: The Government has no plans to introduce a rates deferment scheme for people of pension age. No analysis has therefore been carried out on how such a scheme would operate. It is, however, intended to make provision in primary legislation that would allow a future executive to introduce a deferment scheme.

Regional Transport Strategy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the level of funding to the Department for Regional Development Roads Service on the completion of Northern Ireland's Regional Transport Strategy.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Malcolm McKibbin, dated 5 December 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding what assessment he has made of the impact of the reduced funding to the Department for Regional Development Roads Service on the completion of Northern Ireland's Regional Transport Strategy.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	In terms of the capital budget, I can advise that by the mid-way point on the Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) ten-year strategy period i.e. in 20067, investment on strategic improvements, local transport and safety measures, minor network development schemes, bridge strengthening, street lighting, etc. will have reached approximately 50% of the total envisaged in the RTS. Thus I can reassure you that the overall capital investment in the road network is in line with the increased level of investment that the RTS proposed for initiatives to address the bottlenecks and upgrade the key transport corridors in the network. Indeed, the investment plans outlined in the Draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) embodies proposals which would take capital spending to levels beyond those of the RTS.
	From the maintenance point of view, while average expenditure increased substantially following approval of the RTS, the scope to allocate resources is constrained by the amounts that can be made available from new sources or by reallocating funds from other areas. In order to help create scope to release resources for other priorities, including Health and Education, Ministers have agreed to reduce the amounts in the Draft Budget allocations from those previously allocated for roads. This will result in maintenance levels, which, although above those prior to the RTS, will be short of the total levels envisaged by the RTS. Nevertheless, it is important to note that in the last three years (2003/042005/06), over 220 million has been allocated to this structural maintenance of roads and when assessing maintenance investment it is important to consider this figure over the full cycle.
	I assure you that Roads Service will continue to make the best use of resources available taking proper account of both safety issues and the need to achieve value for money.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Severe Weather (Elderly People)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place to ensure that elderly people in Northern Ireland are protected from the worst effects of prolonged and severe winter weather.

David Hanson: There are a number of measures in place to protect the elderly from the effects of severe winter weather. The warm homes scheme offers a range of heating and insulation measures to make homes more energy efficient and help save on fuel bills. Since it began in 2001, the warm homes scheme has assisted over 25,000 vulnerable households in the private sector and continues to make a major contribution towards improving the quality of life of those in fuel poverty. To strengthen our commitment to warm homes, funding for the scheme has increased from just under 3 million in 2001 to just under 15 million in the current financial year and despite the many pressures on public funding the target of 8,250 participants each year continues to be achieved.
	Those who live in public sector homes are also supported by the Housing Executive's maintenance and improvements programmes which include measures to address fuel poverty.
	Winter fuel payments are available to people aged 60 or over who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland. These payments of 200 are paid to all eligible households. Households which include people aged 80 or over can receive an extra payment of 100. During the winter 2004/05, 230,553 households in Northern Ireland benefited from winter fuel payments amounting to 49.7 million.
	In addition cold weather payments provide extra help towards heating costs for the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, including pensioners receiving pension credit, in periods of exceptionally cold weather.
	The cold weather payment is made automatically to people awarded pension credit when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode. Savings are not taken into account and Cold Weather Payments are paid in addition to winter fuel payments.
	This year the Government are also making Age-Related Payments to help pensioners with their rates bills or other living expenses. People aged 65 or over and not in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit, could receive 200 per household to help with rates bills. Pensioners are free to use it towards heating costs. People aged 70 or over and in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit could receive 50 to help with their living expenses such as heating bills. Age-Related Payments will be paid together with winter fuel payments.

Sports Council for Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role the Sports Council for Northern Ireland has in ensuring that the interests of sportsmen and women in the Province are represented within sports which are (a) organised on a Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland basis and (b) funded through similarly organised sporting bodies.

David Hanson: Under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland Order) 1986 the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is statutorily responsible for the development of Sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of public funding to sport. SCNI runs a range of development programmes designed to assist sports men and women in Northern Ireland to develop their full sporting potential regardless of whether their sports are organised on a Northern Ireland, all-Ireland or UK basis or organised through similarly organised bodies.
	The SCNI does not recognise any governing bodies of sport organised and funded on a Republic of Ireland basis.

Terrorist Offences

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will list the individuals who are on the run for terrorist offences after conviction; and how many individuals are wanted for questioning in connection with offences relating to terrorism in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  when he intends to answer Question 30953, on terrorist offences, tabled by the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre on 17 November.

Peter Hain: According to Prison Service records the following five individuals convicted of terrorist offences are unlawfully at large from prison in Northern Ireland:
	Kevin Barry Artt
	Paul Brennan
	Terrence Damien Kirby
	Patrick Joseph McKenna
	Dermot Delaney.
	This list includes individuals who escaped from prison after the Belfast Agreement.
	The Government does not hold figures on how many people are wanted for questioning in connection with offences relating to terrorism in Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently conducting a review of outstanding warrants. This review has not yet been completed.

Tourism

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to promote (a) Lough Neagh, (b) the annual Sham Fight in Scarva, (c) the annual Twelfth of July Demonstrations in Scarva, (d) the site of the Battle of Diamond at Loughgall, (e) the annual demonstrations by the Royal Black Institution and (f) the annual Apprentice Boys of Derry parades as major tourist attractions.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board's (NITB) Strategic Framework for Action 200407 document has identified the regions, signature projects and winning themes on which NITB will focus over this period.
	With regard to the specific areas referred to:
	Lough Neagh
	The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) currently has a seat on the Lough Neagh Partnership Board and had been represented on the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Board until 2005. Also in March 2005, the NITB contributed 4,000 to the Lough Neagh Partnership Board to assist with a marketing strategy for the Lough.
	Sham Fight in Scarva
	The Sham fight at Scarva while not featured directly on the NITB Discover Northern Ireland website, has links through the Twelfth of July Celebrations (www.grandorange.org.uk) and Scarva Visitors Centre (www.banbridge.com).
	Annual 12th July Demonstrations
	The NITB has promoted the Orange order Annual 12th July Parades through a number of media channels, including the 'Northern Ireland Visitor Guide 2005/06' and, 'Events in Northern Ireland', and on its Discover Northern Ireland website.
	The Battle of the Diamond, Loughgall
	This project lies outside the core priorities of the Strategic Framework for Action 200407 and as such the NITB has no further plans for this site. However, the Dan Winter Cottage in Loughgall is listed on the NITB website www.discovernorthernireland.com and the 'Stop and Visit Guide' on an annual basis.
	Royal Black Institution
	The NITB has not promoted any events from this organisation to date.
	Apprentice Boys
	Over the past five years the NITB has offered the Apprentice Boys 28,300 in selective financial assistance through the Events Marketing Support Scheme and paid out 25,000 in relation to the same. In addition to the Events Marketing Support Scheme money, the NITB board agreed to make an additional payment of 20,000 in 200203 towards the cost associated with the festival. This was in recognition of the potential benefits for tourism which may have arisen from the continued success and development of the event. The NITB has also listed the event in the 'Events in Northern Ireland' guide for the past five years and the Maiden City Festival was listed in the events section of the Discover Northern Ireland website from 29 November 2004 to 14 August 2005.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Valuation and Lands Agency plans to employ extra staff for the domestic rates revaluation in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Valuation and Lands Agency has employed 26 additional staff in order to fully resource the revaluation. Four of these staff are employed on short-term contracts.
	Additionally the Agency has employed two staff on secondment from another Government Agency within Northern Ireland for the purposes of the revaluation.
	No further recruitment is anticipated for the purposes of the revaluation.

Vehicle Licences and Insurance

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drivers have been convicted of driving without (a) road tax licence and (b) valid car insurance in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The information is as follows.
	(a) Road tax licence
	Figures in table 1 are provided by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) and cover the financial years 200001 to 200405. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by district command unit, therefore, Northern Ireland totals are included.
	Those detected for vehicle excise duty offences are usually offered an out-of-court settlement. Only if they ignore the penalty or refuse to pay are they prosecuted in court. The figures for those convicted or who paid out-of-court settlements in the last five years are:
	
		Table 1: Number of convictions or those who paid out-of-court settlements 200001 to 200405
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 15,966 
			 200102 15,428 
			 200203 13,932 
			 200304 10,876 
			 200405 8,796 
		
	
	Note:
	Of the 64,998 cases actioned over the last five years 86 per cent. resulted in out-of-court settlements and 14 per cent. were prosecuted through the courts.
	Source:
	Enforcement Section (DVLNI)
	(b) Valid car insurance
	The statistics included within table 2 cover the calendar years 2000 to 2003 and are based on the PSNI district command unit in which an offender's address falls. Data for 2004 will become available in early 2006. Due to the lack of comparability of 1999 data (based on crimes reported to 12 police divisions) figures for that year have not been included.
	
		Table 2: Persons convicted for driving without insurance by PSNI district command unit 200003(50)(5508480051)
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Antrim 51 74 91 87 
			 Ards 101 115 134 111 
			 Armagh 74 99 123 147 
			 Banbridge 34 51 64 65 
			 Belfast East 85 112 178 143 
			 Belfast North 178 264 294 290 
			 Belfast South 79 112 117 103 
			 Belfast West 101 149 272 167 
			 Ballymena 62 80 140 81 
			 Ballymoney 25 46 51 57 
			 Carrickfergus 50 68 74 76 
			 Coleraine 64 80 121 87 
			 Cookstown 40 70 79 58 
			 Craigavon 119 133 218 263 
			 Castlereagh 58 62 91 70 
			 Dungannon 82 145 132 105 
			 Down 82 125 130 120 
			 Fermanagh 97 136 203 153 
			 Foyle 253 336 300 341 
			 Larne 53 57 85 53 
			 Limavady 53 59 77 83 
			 Lisburn 120 146 194 223 
			 Magherafelt 46 49 77 51 
			 Moyle 37 24 50 38 
			 Newtownabbey 71 105 123 125 
			 North Down 77 93 176 114 
			 Newry and Mourne 158 186 182 222 
			 Omagh 120 165 168 134 
			 Strabane 84 114 147 97 
			 Missing(52) 58 77 110 84 
			 Total 2,512 3,332 4,201 3,748 
		
	
	(50) Data are based on the district command unit in which an offender's address falls. The district command unit structure became operational in April 2001, however, for the purposes of comparability with later years, figures for 2000 and the first quarter of 2001 are also based on the 2001 DCU structure.
	(51) Includes offences of 'no insurance' and 'causing no insurance'.
	(52) Missing data relate to those offenders for which DCU information is not available.